Urgent Call for Intervention in Myanmar
Last Updated (Saturday, 03 April 2021 18:27)
“STOP KILLING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATORS IN MYANMAR”
– Urgent Call for Intervention in Myanmar –
“A year ago, a wake-up call came from Coronavirus to humanity, the second wake-up call came recently from Myanmar to the people of Asia, if not to humanity”. “Can you sleep in peace when your neighbors are being killed like chickens and birds?”
In response to people’s cry and sufferings, APAY in close collaboration with World Alliance of YMCAs launched an Urgent Call petition to UN Human Rights Council urging urgent intervention in Myanmar, calling for a peaceful restoration of democracy in Myanmar. More than 70 national/territorial YMCAs around the world signed the petition letter alongside like-minded ecumenical organizations and NGOs in our region and beyond. But still, peoples, particularly young people, continue to go out to the streets for peaceful protests amid heightening threats, brutal suppressions and even shootings with bullets.
Ms. Ak Kee, a youth volunteer from Myitkyina YMCA, Kachin State, is still in prison after being arrested during her peaceful protest on a street in the city though Ronnie Lyan, Hakha YMCA General Secretary, was released about 10 days ago. APAY also launched a fund-raising campaign with a view to supporting the Myanmar YMCAs, particularly for those and their families who were arrested and detained during their peaceful protests. For direct donation, kindly visit the weblink connected to the WAY website: https://www.ymca.int/donate/myanmar-2021/
The following is the urgent call letter of World YMCA issued on 17th March, signed by World Alliance of YMCAs, Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) and more than 70 national/territorial YMCAs in the world.
17 March 2021
An Open Letter to the UN Human Rights Council and UN member states
The world received the sad news on the first confirmed death from the Myanmar military coup on 19 February 2021. She was shot in the head on February 9 while participating in a peaceful protest in the capital Naypyitaw – just two days before her 20th birthday.
Again on 28 February, security forces in Myanmar fired on peaceful protesters, killing at least 18 people and leaving more than 30 others injured.
Violent suppressions on the part of the police and military continue to increase. A few days later, on 3 March, 38 peaceful demonstrators were shot dead. With little warning, Police and soldiers had opened fire with live rounds.
The news on 8 March reported that three protesters were killed in the northern town of Myitkyina. According to witnesses and photos on Facebook, two of them had gunshot wounds to the head. On 14 March, it was reported that at least 38 protesters across Myanmar were killed in the latest crackdown on the anti-coup movement.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners have reported that since the military coup started on 1 February 2021, more than 126 peaceful demonstrators against the military coup have been killed with many more wounded. More than 2,150 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced and many families do not know where and how their loved ones are. We strongly condemn the excessive use of force against peaceful protesters.
We must not allow this situation to continue. We call on the international community to hold the Myanmar military accountable for its violations of human rights, and to pursue justice for the people of Myanmar. We need the unity of the international community to use every tool available to stop this situation.
The UN Human Rights Council's 47 members have voted to adopt a Resolution demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of political detainees and the restoration of Myanmar's elected government. We urge the Council and its member countries to take stronger measures to restore the rights of the people of Myanmar to elect their government in a democratic process.
As representatives of one of the oldest and largest youth organisations in the world, which has been serving the young people of Myanmar for the past 70 years, we, the undersigned YMCAs, and like-minded organizations and individuals, call on the UN Human Rights Council and its member states to take the right and effective measures to prevent any further sacrifice of innocent lives. We call for the immediate imposition of an arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions against all businesses related to the military, the Generals and their families and proxies, as a response to their violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations against the military coup. Any sale or transfer of military-related equipment to Myanmar could provide the means to further repress the people of Myanmar in violation of international humanitarian and human rights law.
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, call on the UN Human Rights Council and UN member states to urgently institute every possible intervention measure, including coordinated, global sanctions on Myanmar in response to the February 1, 2021 military coup and the subsequent killing of over 126 peaceful demonstrators by the police and military.
We must act decisively now to prevent more deaths. On behalf of the Signatories below,
| Nam Boo Won General Secretary Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs |
Carlos Sanvee Secretary General World Alliance of YMCAs |
Add your support to the petition here:
Signatories:
YMCAs around the World
World Alliance of YMCAs
Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Africa Alliance of YMCAs
Latin American & Caribbean Alliance of YMCAs
YMCA of Europe
YMCA of USA
YMCA of Aruba
YMCA of Australia
YMCA of Bahamas
YMCA of Bangladesh
YMCA of Brazil
YMCA of Cameroun
YMCA of Chile
YMCA of Colombia
YMCA of Czech Republic
YMCA of Denmark
YMCA of Dominican Republic
YMCA of El Salvador
YMCA of England & Wales
YMCA of Ethiopia
YMCA of Finland
YMCA of France
YMCA of Germany
YMCA of Ghana
YMCA of Greece
YMCA of Guatemala
YMCA of Honduras
YMCA of Hungary
YMCA of Iceland
YMCA of India
YMCA of Ireland
YMCA of Italy
YMCA of Japan
YMCA of Kenya
YMCA of Kosovo
YMCA of Lebanon
YMCA of Liberia
YMCA of Lithuania
YMCA of Madagascar
YMCA of Moldovia
YMCA of Mongolia
YMCA of Netherlands
YMCA of New Zealand
YMCA of Nigeria
YMCA of North Macedonia
YMCA of Norway
YMCA of Paraguay
YMCA of Peru
YMCA of Philippines
YMCA of Portugal
YMCA of Romania
YMCA of Russia
YMCA of Scotland
YMCA of Senegal
YMCA of Sierra Leone
YMCA of Slovakia
YMCA of South Africa
YMCA of South Korea
YMCA of Spain
YMCA of Sri Lanka
YMCA of Taiwan
YMCA of Transylvania
YMCA of Ukraine
YMCA of Uruguay
YMCA of Zambia
YMCA of Zimbabwe
YWCA-YMCA of Sweden ACJ
Montevideo
HorYzon, Switzerland
YMCAs from Canada
YMCA Canada
YMCA Calgary
YMCA of Central East Ontario
YMCA of Cumberland
YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth
YMCA of Greater Toronto
YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford
YMCA of Medicine Hat
YMCA of Niagara
YMCA of Northeastern Ontario
YMCA of Northern Alberta
YMCA of Northern BC
YMCA of Northumberland
YMCA of Okangan
YMCA of Owen Sound Grey Bruce
YMCA of Pictou County
YMCA of Saskatoon
YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka
YMCA of Southwestern Ontario
YMCA of Three Rivers
YMCA of Timmins
YMCAs of Québec
YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region
Ecumenical Organizations and NGOs in Asia:
WSCF – Asia Pacific
Border Peace School, Korea
Korea Christian Democracy Foundation Saemoonan Torch Forum, Korea
Solidarity of Pastors Seeking Reformation of the Presbyterian Church of Korea
Korea Christian Cooperation for Social Development
Fund for Life in Korea
Forum of Korean Christian Intellectuals on Church and Society, Korea
Goyang Peace and Future Forum, Korea
Korea Association for Asian Rural Mission
The Korean Methodist Rural Mission training Center
Individuals:
Renata Namnum
Yungsuk Chun
Daya Sagar Shrestha
William Nokrek
Jiseok Jung
Kaustuv Bandyopadhyay
George Bernardsha
Dorothy Ong
Amelia Cheong
Ahn Youngsoo
Chung jae Lee
Christine Liu
Aakil Lam
Rory Lui
Jojo Wong
Wong Peter
Maite Iriberri
Ulysse Desmarest
Samantha Hui
Wong Ching Yin,
Tony Sze
- End