Open Letter to ASEAN Defence Ministers

Yara Harake Open Letters 15 June 2022

To:
H.E. General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Cambodia

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulahibni Al-Marhum, Minister of Defense, Brunei Darussalam

H.E. Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defence, Indoensia

H.E. General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Lao PDR

The Honourable Dato' Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, Senior Minister of Defence, Malaysia

H.E. Delfin N. Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense, Philippines

H.E. Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Singapore

H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Thailand

H.E. General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence, Viet Nam

June 15 2022

Re: Myanmar junta participation in ADMM

Your Excellencies,

We, the undersigned 677 Myanmar, regional and international civil society organizations, appeal to you not to extend an invitation to the Myanmar military junta's Minister of Defence at the upcoming ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM).

The Myanmar military junta's acts meet the definition of terror under international and national law and are responsible for ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law following the military's illegal coup attempt. Since the military's illicit attempt coup, almost 700,000 people have been forcibly displaced as the junta waged a terror campaign against the Myanmar people. In the face of mass public resistance, the junta has murdered more than 1,900 people, arbitrarily arrested over 14,000 more, committed widespread torture, indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling, burnt villages and looted public property.

In the upcoming 16th ADMM, scheduled for June 22, we understand that the Junta defence minister General Mya Tun Oo will be representing Myanmar. General Mya Tun Oo plays a leading role in managing the military, responsible for committing ongoing atrocity crimes with total impunity. Mya Tun Oo's direct responsibility for international law violations has been recognized by the USA, U.K., EU, Canada and New Zealand, which sanctioned him. In its designation, the U.K. stated that Mya Tun Oo has "command responsibility for these violations and can therefore be held responsible for these actions." Mya Tun Oo is also a member of the State Administration Council (SAC). The E.U. recognized that "as a member of the SAC, General Mya Tun Oo has been directly involved in and responsible for decision making concerning state functions and is therefore responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law". Mya Tun Oo should be held accountable for his role in the military's attempted coup and the junta's atrocity crimes and not rewarded through participation in ADMM.

We welcome ASEAN's exclusion of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing from the 2021 ASEAN Summit and the exclusion of the junta foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin from the 2022 Foreign Ministers' Retreat. However, we note with concern that ADMM has invited the junta to participate in meetings, including at the ministerial level, since its illegal coup attempt, which is inconsistent with decisions made by ASEAN not to invite General Min Aung Hlaing and Wunna Maung Lwin. ADMM's engagement with the junta, which has included military exercises, may likely amount to aiding and abetting the junta's war crimes and crimes against humanity.

It is imperative that ASEAN does not award legitimacy to the Myanmar military junta, upholds its charter and respects international human rights and humanitarian law by excluding the junta from ADMM. In allowing the junta to participate in ADMM, ASEAN is further risking complicity in the junta's atrocity crimes by providing support and legitimacy to the military and encouraging a military that is waging a nationwide campaign of terror.

As ASEAN defence ministers, we appeal to you to disinvite Mya Tun Oo from the 16th ADMM and all future meetings. Engage with the National Unity Government as the legitimate government of Myanmar, and work to resolve the crisis in Myanmar.

For any further inquiries, please contact:

Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice,

Debbie Stothard, ALTSEAN-Burma,

Salai Za Uk Ling, Chin Human Rights Organization,

List of Signatories

The list of signatories below includes 299 Myanmar, regional and international organizations and 378 Myanmar civil society organizations that have chosen not to disclose their names.

Signed by:

"Do" farmer Organization
8888 Generation (New Zealand)
8888 New Generation (Mohnyin)
Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
Action Committee for Democracy Development
Active Youths (Kalaymyo)
Ah Nah podcast- Conversation with Myanmar
Ah. La. Ka (12) Hta Khwe, Primary Education Student Union
All Arakan Students and Youths' Congress
All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
All Burma Student Democratic Front - Australia Branch
All Religions Strike Column
All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
Alliance for Free Burma Solidarity
Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
ALTSEAN-Burma
Anti Dictatorship in Burma DC Metropolitan Area
Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
Arakan CSO Network
Arakan Humanitarian Coordination Team- AHCT
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
Asia Pacific Solidarity Coalition
Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD) Philippines
Asian Cultural Forum on Development Foundation (ACFOD) Thailand
Asian Dignity Initiative
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development
Association for Advancement of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Vietnam (AAFORB-VN)
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
Athan - Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
Auckland Kachin Community N.Z.
Auckland Zomi Community
Aung Myay Thar Zan Education Schools Strike Column
Aung Pin Lae Main Strike Column
Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
Australian Karen Organisation Inc
Back Pack Health Workers Team
Bamar Community Tasmania
BCC (စစ်ကိုင်း)
Blood Money Campaign
Buddhist Solidarity Association
Burma Action Ireland
Burma Campaign U.K.
Burma Human Rights Network
Burma Lawyers' Council (BLC)
Burma Medical Association
Burma Soumalaiset (Finland)
Burmese Community - South Australia
Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, N.Z.)
Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
Burmese Friendship Association
Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
Burmese Rohingya Organisation U.K.
Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
Burmese Women's Union
Cambodian Americans and Friends for Democracy and Human Rights Advocate
Campaign for a New Myanmar
Canberra Karen Association
CDM Support Team Mandalay (CSTM)
Chan Mya Thar Si Township People Strike Column
Chin Community - South Australia
Chin Community of Auckland
Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
Chin Community Tasmania
Chin Human Rights Organization
Chin MATA Working Group
Chin Resources Center
Chin Youth Organization (Matupi)
Citizen of Burma Award - New Zealand
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Committee Representing Mandalay Region Hluttaw
Cooperative University Student Strike Column
CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
CRPH Funding Ireland
CRPH Support Group, Norway
CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany - Deutschland
CRPH/NUG support group Australia
Dawei Development Association
Dawei Probono Lawyer Network
Democracy for Myanmar - Working Group (N.Z.)
Democracy, Peace and Women's Organization
Democratic Youth Council
Doh Atu - Ensemble pour le Myanmar
Dragon Dawn
Education and health care for Myanmar-Thailand Association
Education Family (Anti - Fascists Education Strike Columns Coordination Committee)
Educational Initiatives Myanmar
Equality Myanmar
Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee
Falam Community - South Australia
Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (N.Z.)
Foundation of Khmer Samaki
Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
Free Expression Myanmar (FEM)
Free Rohingya Coalition
Future Light Center
Future Thanlwin
General Strike Committee of Nationalities - GSCN
Generation Wave
Generations (မျိုးဆက်)
GenY For Revolution Japan
German Solidarity with Myanmar Democracy e.V.
Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
Global Myanmar Spring Revolution - Japan
Global Myanmar Spring Revolution - Korea
Golden Heart Organization
Grass-root People
Human Rights Educators' Network
Human Rights Foundation of Monland
In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) Philippines
India For Myanmar
Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
Info Birmanie
Initiatives for International Dialogue
Institute for Asian Democracy
Inter Pares
Interfaith Youth Coalition on Aids in Myanmar (IYCA-Myanmar)
International Campaign for the Rohingya
International Karen Organisation
JASS Southeast Asia
Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
Justice 4 Myanmar - Hope & Development
Justice Movement for Community-Innlay
Justice For Myanmar
Kachin Association Australia
Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
Kachin Human Rights Watch
Kachin State Women Network
Kachin Women's Association Thailand
Kachin Women's Union
Kadu Youth Development Association (KYDA)
Kalyarna Metta Association (Khin U)
Kanbung Youth (Matupi)
Kanpetlet Land Development Organization
Karen Community - South Australia
Karen Human Rights Group
Karen Peace Support Network
Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
Karen Women's Organization
Karenni Community of Western Australia Inc.
Karenni Federation of Australia
Karenni Human Rights Group
Karenni Society New Zealand
Kayan Internally Displacement Supervising Committee (KIDSC)
Kayan Women’s Organization
Kayin Community Tasmania
Keng Tung Youth
Khanthar Farmers Network
Khumzup Local Development Committee
Kurawal Foundation
Kyauktada Strike Committee
LA COMMUNAUTÉ BIRMANE DE FRANCE
LGBTIQ Strike of Mandalay
Maha Aung Myay Township People Collective Strike Column
Mandalar University Student Strike Column
Mandalay Alliance Strike Collective Column
Mandalay Based People Strike Column
Mandalay Civil Society Organizations
Mandalay Engineer Group
Mandalay Engineer United Force
Mandalay University Student Alumni Union
Mandalay Wholesale Strike Column
Mandalay Youth Association
Mandalay Youth Strike Column
MATA Sagaing Region
Matu Chin Community - South Australia
Matu Forum Committee
Matu Women Association
Medical Family – Mandalay
Metta Campaign Mandalay
MIIT Student Strike Column
MilkTeaAlliance Calendar
MilkTeaAlliance Galleries
Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. (MPI)
Mindat Chin Community NSW
Mindat Community - South Australia
Mindat Emergency Response Team (MERT)
Mizo Community - South Australia
Mon Families Group
Mon National Council (MNC)
Mung Chying Rawt Jat (MRJ)
Muslim Youth Network
Muslim Youth Union
Mya Taung Strike Column
Myanmar Accountability Project
Myanmar Action Group Denmark
Myanmar Alliance for Transparency and Accountability
Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS)
Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
Myanmar Diaspora Group Finland
Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
Myanmar Engineers - New Zealand
Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
Myanmar People from Ireland
Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
Myanmar Railway, Region (3) CDM Strike Column
Myanmar Students' Association Australia (MSAA)
Myanmar Students' Union in New Zealand
Netherlands Myanmar Solidarity Platform
Network for Advocacy Action
Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
New Zealand Doctors for NUG
New Zealand Karen Association
New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
No 7 State High School Alumni Strike Column
No Business With Genocide
Northern Spectrum Youth Association
NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
Open Development Foundation
Overseas Mon Association, New Zealand
Pan Pa Wash People Strike Column
Patriotic War Vetrans of Burma (PWVB)
Peace and Culture Foundation
People's Hope Spring Revolution
Phayagye Peace Strike Column
Private Pre-school Teachers Association
Progressive Voice
Pusat Komas
Pyi Gyi Ta Gon Strike
Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC
Queensland Rohingya Community
Rohingya Action Ireland
Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
Sangha Samaga Strike Column
Save and Care Organization for Women at Border Areas
SAVE MYANMAR - USA
Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
Sein Pan Strike Column
Shan Community (New Zealand)
Shan MATA
Shan Women Development Network
Shape-Sea
Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
Shwechinthae Farmers Network
Sisters 2 Sisters
Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
Social Garden
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
Southern Youth Development Organization
Strike Column of Representatives of Arbitrarily Arrested People
Strike Column of Teachers from Universities and Degree Colleges of Mandalay
Students & Youth Congress of Burma (SYCB)
Support for Myanmar
Swedish Burma Committee
Swedish Foundation for Human Rights
Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
Ta'ang Women's Organization
Taekwando Sport Association
Tanintharyi MATA
Tanintharyi Nationalities Congress
Tanintharyi People's Voice
Tanintharyi Women's Network
Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
Thapaynyo News Letter
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)
The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar (IPEM)
Together Thanlyin
Twitter Team for Revolution
U.S. Campaign for Burma
Uakthon Local Social Development Organization
United Myanmar Community of South Australia
Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
Way Way Nay
We Pledge CDM (Australia)
Western Australia Myanmar Community (WAMC)
Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network (WAMDN)
Winemaw Civil Society Network
Winemaw Lisu Development Association
Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
Women Advocacy Coalition-Myanmar
Women's League of Burma
Women's Peace Network
Zo Community - South Australia
Zomi Association Australia Inc.
Zomi Community - South Australia
Zomi Community Queensland
ခုနစ်စင်ကြယ်အဖွဲ့
ဒို့မြေကွန်ရက် (LIOH)
ဒေါင်းစစ်သည်
ပွင့်ဖြူလယ်ယာမြေကွန်ရက်
ပဲခူး MATA