Ministry of Defense
5-1 Honmura-cho, Ichigaya
Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 162-8801
Japan
To: H.E. Nobuo Kishi, Minister of Defense, Japan
Re: Participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter Terrorism
14 July 2022
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned 448 organizations from throughout Myanmar and the world, appeal to you, as a representative of the Government of Japan and minister responsible for Japan’s defence engagement with ASEAN, to boycott the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group (ADMM-Plus EWG) on Counter Terrorism scheduled for 20 – 21 July in Moscow, Russia that is co-chaired by the Myanmar and Russian militaries. We welcome the decisions of Australia and New Zealand to not participate in the upcoming meeting. By joining the Working Group meeting co-chaired by bodies implicated in acts of terror, the Government of Japan risks alienating itself from other ADMM Dialogue Partners and being portrayed as supporting both militaries’ approach to terrorism.
We are further concerned that the Japanese government has continued to train Myanmar military personnel through its defense programs, despite the Myanmar military’s commission of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity, and evidence that Japan-trained personnel have been deployed with forces that are implicated in atrocity crimes. This raises serious concerns for the Japanese government, that it may be risking becoming complicit in the junta’s international crimes. Japanese Defense Minister’s participation in the upcoming ADMM-Plus meeting on Counter Terrorism would be seen as further endorsement of the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes.
The Myanmar military has long committed international crimes under the pretext of “counter terrorism”. The most egregious case was the Myanmar military’s 2017 genocide against the Rohingya, which, according to the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, involved the launch of “clearance operations” that were supposedly aimed at the “elimination” of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. In reality, it involved the murder, massacre, torture, rape and gang rape of Rohingya, forcing over 700,000 to flee to Bangladesh under the guise of counter terrorism.
The military’s abuse of anti-terrorism law and practices continued after its illegal coup attempt. One strategy of the junta has been to attack democratic institutions and justify ongoing atrocities by designating the National Unity Government (NUG), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and Peoples Defence Forces (PDFs) as “terrorists”. In 2021, the Myanmar military used its co-chair position of the ADMM Experts’ Working Group to legitimize its illegal junta and to seek support for its terrorism designations against the NUG, CRPH and PDFs. Its leadership of the group was also used as fodder for domestic propaganda, with photos and details of the meetings featured prominently in military-controlled media targeting a domestic audience.
Meanwhile in June 2022, the military junta announced a planned execution of four men, including two respected democracy activists, for ungrounded allegations of terrorism — rejecting a plea made by ASEAN Chair Prime Minister Hun Sen. Such actions demonstrate the junta’s total disrespect of and unwillingness to implement ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus, which demands an immediate cessation of violence and a dialogue among all parties concerned. The junta’s ongoing operations against civilians — including torture, indiscriminate attacks, airstrikes and artillery shelling, burning of villages and looting — are increasingly deploying new tactics of terror to commit widespread and systematic crimes throughout the country. This is exemplified by the junta soldiers beheading and desecrating unarmed civilians in Sagaing Region. These acts clearly constitute terror under international and national law. A body responsible for such terror and gross atrocities is devoid of legitimacy and is in no position to lead, nor participate, in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism.
The Working Group’s other co-chair, Russia, is similarly in no position to lead or participate in ASEAN counter terrorism cooperation. Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine must be condemned as an attack on democratic values and violation of international law and norms. Since its invasion, Ukraine has documented 15,000 suspected war crimes as of 31 May, and the situation in Ukraine has been referred to the International Criminal Court by 43 State Parties, including Japan. The Ukrainian government has estimated that “at least tens of thousands” of Ukrainian civilians were killed in the first 100 days of Russia’s invasion. Since 24 February, at least one-third of Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced. Your government’s meaningful decisions — to impose targeted sanctions of more than 700 Russian individuals and entities, ban exports to Russian-military related entities, phasing out and banning Russian oil and coal, and to expel Russian diplomats and officials — in line with the Group of Seven (G7)’s resolution, must be reflected in the approach to the Myanmar military junta.
Engagement with ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism only emboldens the Myanmar junta and Russia to continue committing international crimes. ASEAN Defence Ministers and ASEAN-Plus Defence Ministers must take the principled step and refuse to attend the upcoming ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism. To allow the Myanmar junta and Russia to engage in the ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism is antithetical to the aims of the meeting and will severely damage the reputation of the ADMM-Plus EWG and ASEAN. We call on you to boycott the upcoming ADMM-Plus EWG on Counter Terrorism and take further actions to exclude the Myanmar junta and Russia from other ADMM meetings in solidarity with the peoples of Myanmar and Ukraine.
For more information, please contact:
- Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice, info@progressive-voice.org
- Moon Nay Li, Kachin Women’s Association Thailand, office@gmail.com
- Salai Za Uk Ling, Chin Human Rights Organization, zauk@chinhumanrights.org
Sincerely,
List of signatories below include the following 415 Myanmar, regional and international civil society organizations, Spring Revolution Strike Committees and unions from Myanmar. 33 organizations from Myanmar have chosen not to disclose their names. A total of 448 organizations are signatories to the open letter.
- 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
- Action Committee for Democracy Development
- Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
- Active Youth (Kalay)
- Activists Group for Human Rights ‘BARAM’
- Ah Nah Podcast- conversation with Myanmar
- All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress
- All Aung Myay Thar San Education Strike
- All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
- All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
- All Sagaing Township Basic Education Students’ Union
- All Schools of Aungmyaythazan Township Strike
- Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
- Alliance Organization Myanmar Bankers Union
- ALTSEAN-Burma
- Anti Dictatorship in Burma – DC Metropolitan Area (ADB-DCMA)
- Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
- Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee (AFCC)
- Arakan CSO Network
- Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team- AHCT
- Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
- Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition (APSOC)
- Asian Dignity Initiative
- Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
- Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
- Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
- Association of United Nationality in Japan (AUN)
- Association Suisse-Birmanie (Swiss Burma Association)
- Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
- Auckland Kachin Community NZ
- Auckland Zomi Community
- Aung Myay Tharzan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Aung Pin Lal Main Strike
- Ayeyarwaddy Youths’ Union
- Bago Basic Education Students’ Union
- Bank Trade Unions Federation of Myanmar – BTUFM
- Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
- Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
- BEHS-1, Hpa-An Basic Education Students’ Union
- BEHS-1, Mandalay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- BEHS-11, Aungmyethazan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- BEHS-24, Mahaaungmyay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- BEHS-4, Mandalay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- BEHS-8, Aungmyethazan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Blood Money Campaign
- Burma Action Ireland
- Burma Campaign UK
- Burma Refugee Saving Association (B.R.S.A)
- Burman suomalaiset Finland
- Burmese Canadian Network
- Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
- Burmese Community in France
- Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
- Cambodian Americans and Friends for Democracy and Human Rights Advocate
- CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
- CDM Support Team Mandalay
- Chanayetharsan Basic Education Students’ Union
- Changjak21
- Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
- Chin Community of Auckland
- Chin Community of Japan (CCJ)
- Chin Human Rights Organization
- Chin Youth Organization (Matupi)
- Chin Youth Organization of Japan (CYO-JP)
- Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
- Citizen of Burma Award – New Zealand
- CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
- Civil Information Network (CIN)
- Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
- Coalition of Mandalay Engineers
- Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
- Colorfulspring (ရောင်စုံနွေဦး)
- Community Resource Center, Thailand
- Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
- CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
- CRPH Funding Ireland
- CRPH Support Group, Norway
- CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland
- Daik-U Basic Education Students’ Union
- Daung Sitthe Strike
- Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
- Dawei Basic Education Students’ Union
- Dawei Youths in Japan (DYJ)
- Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
- Democracy for Ethnic Minorities Organization
- Democracy for Myanmar – Working Group (NZ)
- Democracy Movement Strike Committee-Dawei (DDMSC)
- Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization
- Democratic Youth Council
- Demoso Basic Education Students’ Union
- Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
- Depayin Women Strike
- Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
- Dragon Dawn (Japan)
- Education Family Strike
- Educational Initiatives Prague
- Equality Myanmar
- Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
- European Karen Network
- Family Private School Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
- Federation of Worker’s Union of Burmese Citizens in Japan (FWUBC)
- Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
- Foundation of Khmer Samaki, CA
- Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
- Free Rohingya Coalition
- Future Thanlwin
- Gangaw Women Strike
- General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
- General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
- General Strike Coordination Body – GSCB
- Generation Wave
- GenY For Revolution Japan
- German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy e.V.
- Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD)
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution – Japan
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (South Korea)
- Golden Heart Organization
- Grass-root People
- Hinthada Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Hlaing Thar Yar Basic Education Students’ Union
- Hope For Youth -Kyushu Japan
- Hopin Basic Education Students’ Union
- HTY Scout Channel
- Human Rights Foundation of Monland
- In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND), Philippines
- Incorporated Organization Shilcheon Bulgyo
- India for Myanmar
- Industries Strike
- Info Birmanie
- Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
- Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
- Insein Scout Channel
- Institute for Asian Democracy
- Inter-Faith Strike Column
- Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA – Myanmar )
- International Association, Myanmar- Switzerland
- International Child Rights Center
- International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals (Japan)
- Japan Myanmar Future Creative Association (JMFCA)
- Japan Myanmar Help Network
- Justice For Myanmar
- Justice Movement for Community – Innlay
- Kachin Affairs Organization – Japan
- Kachin State Women Network
- Kachin Student Union
- Kachin Women Union
- Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
- Kalay Township Strike Force
- Kalay Women Strike
- Kalyarna Metta Association (Khin U)
- Kamayut Scout Channel
- Kanbung Youth (Matupi)
- Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
- Kansai Group Japan
- Karen Human Rights Group
- Karen National League Japan-KNL
- Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
- Karen Women’s Organization
- Karen Rivers Network
- Karenni National Society (KNS) Japan
- Karenni National Women’s Organization
- Karenni Society Finland
- Karenni Society New Zealand
- Katha Basic Education Students’ Union
- Kayan Internally Displacement Supervising Committee (KIDSC)
- Keng Tung Youth
- Khanthar Farmers Network
- Khumzup Local Development Committee
- Kings N Queens
- Know Us More Myanmar (KUM)
- Kobe Myanmar Community (KMC)
- Korea Christian Solidarity for Democracy in Myanmar
- Korean Civil Society in Support of Democracy in Myanmar (106 NGOs)
- Korean House for International Solidarity
- Kyaikhto Basic Education Students’ Union – KBESU
- Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
- Kyaukse Basic Education Students’ Union
- Kyaukse University Interim Administrative Council
- Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
- Kyause University Students’ Union
- Kyimyindaing Scout Channel
- La Communauté Birmane de France
- Labor Union Federation
- Labutta Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Langkho Basic Education Students’ Union
- Lanmadaw, Latha & Pabedan Scout Channel
- Lashio Basic Education Students’ Union
- Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
- Launglon Basic Education Students’ Union
- League For Democracy in Burma (L.D.B Japan)
- Let’s Help Each Other
- Letpadan Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- LGBT Alliance Myanmar
- LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
- LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
- LGBT Community Yangon
- LGBT Union Mandalay (LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay)
- Magway People’s Revolution Committee
- Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
- Mandalar College Students Strike
- Mandalar University Students’ Strike
- Mandalar University Students Union
- Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
- Mandalay Civil Society Organization
- Mandalay Engineer Group (MEG)
- Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
- Mandalay People Strike
- Mandalay Poets’ Union
- Mandalay Private Universities Students Union
- Mandalay Regional Youth Association
- Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
- Mandalay Technology University (MTU) Students Union
- Mandalay Universities, Degree and College Teachers and Staffs Strike
- Mandalay University Alumni Strike
- Mandalay University of Foreign Languages Students Union
- Mandalay Wholesale Centers Strike
- Mandalay Women Strike
- Mandalay Youth Strike
- Mandalay-based People’s Strike
- Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions
- Matu Forum Committee
- Matu Women Association
- Mawkmai Basic Education Students’ Union
- Mawlamyine Basic Education Students’ Union
- Mayangone News
- Me Boun Foundation
- Medical Family Mandalay (MFM)
- Meikhtila Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Metta Campaign Mandalay
- Midwifery Training School Students Union (Mandalay)
- MilkTeaAlliance friends of Myanmar
- Minbu Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc.
- Minority Affairs Institute – Mai (Myanmar)
- Mogaung Basic Education Students’ Union
- Mohnyin Basic Education Students’ Union
- Mon Youth For Federal Democracy (MYFD)
- Monywa Basic Education Students’ Union – ABFSU
- Monywa LGBT Strike
- Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Monywa Women Strike
- Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
- Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
- MRJ (Maraja)
- Mudon Basic Education Students’ Union
- Multi-Religions Strike
- Muslim Youth Network
- Muslim Youths Association
- Mya Taung Strike
- Myanmar Accountability Project
- Myanmar Active Students & Businesspeople Organization (MASBO)
- Myanmar Democratic Force in Denmark
- Myanmar Development Support Group (MDSG)
- Myanmar Diaspora Group Finland
- Myanmar Emergency Fund Canada (MEF Canada)
- Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
- Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM)
- Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
- Myanmar Institute of Information and Technology (Mandalay) Students Union
- Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
- Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
- Myanmar Nationalities’ Support Organization – JP (MNSO)
- Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
- Myanmar Railway Division (3) CDM Staffs Strike
- Myanmar Secret Information – MSI
- Myanmar Spring Revolution Japan (MSRJ)
- Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
- Myanmar Tozan Club (MTC)
- Myanmar Youth and Student Association, Japan (MYSA)
- Myanmar’s Youth Association Hokkaido (MYAH)
- Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
- National University of Arts and Culture (Mandalay) Students Union
- Netherlands – Myanmar Solidarity Platform
- Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
- New Zealand Doctors for NUG
- New Zealand Karen Association
- New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
- No (12) Basic Education Middle School Student Union
- No (7) Basic Education High School Alumni Strike
- 12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
- 12 Basic Education Middle School (High Branch) Basic Education Students’ Union
- NOK Information & Scout Echo
- North Dagon & East Dagon News
- Northern Spectrum Youth Association
- Nursing Training School Students Union (Mandalay)
- Nyaunglebin Basic Education Students’ Union
- OCTOPUS Youth Organization
- Okinawa Myanmar Association (OMA)
- Olive Organization
- Open Development Foundation
- Overseas Mon Association (New Zealand)
- Padaung Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Palaung National Society Japan, PNS-Japan
- Palaw Supporting Group Japan
- Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Pa-O Women’s Union (PWU)
- PEC Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
- People’s Hope Spring Revolution (PHSR)
- People’s Initiative for Development Alternatives
- People’s Action Against Dictator CHUN Doo-Hwan
- People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
- Phayagyi Peace Strike
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- Private pre school Teachers’ Association
- Progressive 3.0
- Progressive Voice
- Punnyakari Mon National Society Japan, PMNS-Japan
- Pyay Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Pyay Underground News – PUGN
- Pyigyidagon Strike
- Pyin Nyar Nan Daw Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
- Pyin Oo Lwin Basic Education Students’ Union
- Pyinmana Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
- Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
- Representing The Arrested People Strike
- Revolution Tokyo Myanmar (RTM)
- Rohingya Action Ireland
- Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
- Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
- Sangha Union Strike
- Save and Care Organization for Women at Border Areas
- SAVE MYANMAR – USA
- Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
- Save the Salween Network
- Sein Pan Strike
- Shan Community (New Zealand)
- Shan Community in Japan (SCJ)
- Shan MATA
- Shan Women Development Network
- ShizuYouth For Myanmar
- Shwechinthae Farmers Network
- Sintgaing Basic Education Students’ Union
- Sisters 2 Sisters
- Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
- Solidarity for Another World
- Sone See Yar (Volunteer Group)
- South Dagon Scouting Info (SDG)
- Southern Youth Development
- Spring Revolution Interfaith Network-SRIN
- Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim- SRMMN
- Spring Revolution Restaurant
- Stiftung Asienhaus
- Students for Free Burma
- Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar (The Netherlands)
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization
- Taekwondo Federation
- Tai Youths Network Japan (TYNJ)
- Tampawadi People Strike
- Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
- Tanintharyi MATA
- Taunggyi Basic Education Students’ Union
- Taze Women Strike
- Technological University (Yadanabon Cyber City) Students Union
- Technological University Mandalay (TUM) Students Union
- Tha Pyay Nyo Newsletter
- Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
- Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
- Thaton Basic Education Students’ Union
- Thayat Chaung Women Strike
- The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
- The Center for Freedom of Information
- The May 18 Memorial Foundation
- Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
- Township Leading Group (Winwmaw)
- Try Together At Japan (TTAJ)
- Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR) – Myanmar
- S. Campaign for Burma
- Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
- Union of Myanmar Citizen Association – Japan
- University of Computer (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Dental Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Medical Technology (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Nursing (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Pharmacy (Mandalay) Students Union
- University of Traditional Medicine (Mandalay) Students Union
- University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
- US Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar (USACM)
- VEC Private School Basic Education Students’ Union
- Voice For Justice
- We Are One Saga MOSA
- We for All
- We Love Motherland-MM (Malaysia)
- We Support (Japan)
- Wetlet Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
- Wetlet Township Women Strike
- White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
- Winemaw Civil Society Network
- Winemaw Lisu Development Association
- Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
- Women’s League of Burma
- Wundwin Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
- Yangon Medical network
- Yangon Revolution Force – YRF (Soft Strike Community)
- Yangon Women Strike
- Yaw Funding Japan
- Yedashe Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- YG Network
- Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
- Yokohama Pamphlet Campaign – Myanmar
- Youth Network (Tanintharyi Region)
- Youth Poets’ Union
- Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
- Z Fighter News
- Zabuthiri Basic Education Students’ Union-ABFSU
- Zeegwat News
- ဂျပန်ပြည်မှတွဲလက်များ
- မျိုးဆက်-Generations
- လူငယ်များသမဂ္ဂ – ပုသိမ်
- လူငယ်များသမဂ္ဂ – ဗဟို
- 一般社団法人 ミャンマーグローバル支援財団 (MGSF)
***We have received overwhelming support for the statement. Below are list of additional organizations that have signed-on to the statement after its release
- Yangon People’s Strike
- Save Myanmar San Francisco
