On 1 February 2021, the military dictatorship led by Min Aung Hlaing attempted to stage the coup by the use of weapons to seize power from the democratically elected civilian government. Civilian government officials including elected members of parliaments were arbitrarily arrested, allegedly charged with false accusations, and sentenced to long-term imprisonment.
To continue to enforce the power without adhering to the law, coup leaders formed an illegal organization so-called State Administrative Council (SAC), and they carried out arbitrary arrests, inhumane torture and killings, looting and destruction, and illegal confiscation of people’s properties and valuables. In addition to that, the SAC deploys weaponry and air defense attacks systematically and purposefully day after day toward religious buildings, hospitals, schools, civilian houses, and IDP camps.
The military coup d’etat attempt has halted the democracy gains which Myanmar citizens had established over a decade whilst freedom, rule of law, and human rights were also vanished. Besides, the social economic, education, and public health sector have been deteriorating and Myanmar is on the verge of becoming a failed state. Military junta’s actions have threatened the peace and stability of the regional countries.
As of now, the illegal SAC has killed more than 3,465 people and arbitrarily arrested 21,947 people. The SAC had violated human rights and inmates on detainees were being tortured, sexually abused, and denied access to medical care. The former elected MP U Phyo Zeyar Thaw and the democratic activists, Ko Jimmy (aka) U Kyaw Min Yu, Ko Hla Myo Aung, and Ko Aung Thura Zaw, were prosecuted and additional 100 people were also sentenced to death. An estimated 70,000 people’s homes were torched and many elders and disabled people were killed in arson attacks. Over 1.76 million people were forced to flee due to the targeted attacks against civilians and arson by the military forces.
The SAC’s military members have continued committing brutal crimes, seriously violating laws and human rights principles, such as arresting and burning people alive, massacre, and sexually exploiting women because of no legal actions, and continued impunity from accountability.
Amongst all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the SAC across the country, aerial attacks to the Pazigyi Village from Kantbalu Township and Let Yet Kone Village in Depayin Township of Sagaing Region, A Nang Pa from Kachin State and as well as arson attacks in an attempt for a massacre to the people near Moso village, Paruso Township from Kayah State, were by far deemed to be the worst forms of crimes.
On behalf of the people of Myanmar, we express our sincerest gratitude to the world’s states and organizations including the United Nations Security Council for adopting resolutions and imposing economic and diplomatic pressure towards the SAC, and efforts by the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Myanmar to help cease the increased war crimes, crimes against humanities and other forms of atrocities by the military junta.
There was very limited engagement with key stakeholders including the democratically elected MPs from the 2020 general elections while ASEAN Chairmanship tried to help solve the crisis after the coup in Myanmar. We strongly hope that the efforts of the current ASEAN Chairmanship, Indonesia for sustained engagement and cooperation with key stakeholders including the democratically elected MPs would achieve the efforts of ASEAN for Myanmar. As one of the key stakeholders in Myanmar, the Union Parliament reaffirms our readiness to cooperate with ASEAN to achieve your efforts.
The military junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has been completely ignoring the international community’s efforts to end the current conflict, and they are worsening the country’s situation by accelerating the atrocities. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the efforts of the international community to end impunity.
We reaffirm that the international community, understanding the failure of the responsibility to implement justice for the people of Myanmar, needs to show solidarity for effective actions as an urgency to end their increased war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations committed by the criminal military leaders who are facing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICJ) for Rohingya genocide in Rakhine State.
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw,
- Strongly condemns the military junta led by Min Aung Hlaing’s attempt for unlawful coup d’etat, and war crimes and crimes against humanity that are being taken place all over the country to control state power illegally.
- Urges the international community for the effective measure to block the sales of military weapons and equipment as well as aviation fuel for the SAC.
- Calls for the international community to continue with effective sanctions towards Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise, Myanmar’s Gems Enterprise, and Myanmar’s Timber Enterprise which are the key sources of revenue for the SAC and those money being used to kill innocent civilians across the country.
- Urges the international community to continue with stronger and targeted sanctions towards the criminal military personnel, illegal SAC members, their families, and affiliated businesses, and those who involve in genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
- Calls upon the international community to support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) which is gathering data on crimes committed by the Myanmar military for a successful investigation.
- Urges world’s states to coordinate and collaborate to refer the cases of SAC’s war crimes and crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Courts.
- Urges the international community including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the European Parliament (EP), and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to organize parliamentary debates on the current worsening situation in Myanmar and adopt resolutions that call for the international community for practical measures.
- Calls upon the international community to engage with pro-democratic forces including the National Unity Government (NUG) to provide practical support and to cooperate for effective humanitarian assistance.
- Urges deeply the United Nations and all member states to implement the Resolution 2669 (2022) adopted by the United Nations Security Council which also included the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Calls upon the United Nations to establish No-Fly Zone not to emerge further bloodshed by the escalated aerial attacks by military junta day after day.
- Calls upon the United Nations to protect the people of Myanmar from war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the military junta in accordance with the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
- Encourages ASEAN nations, respecting their own values, rules, and regulations, to work closely and unitedly to find effective solutions and actions on Myanmar issues, with the best benefit of Myanmar people in mind.
- Urges the current ASEAN Chair, Indonesia to perform sustained engagement and cooperations with key stakeholders including the democratically elected MPs from the 2020 general elections which were recognized by the international community, the National Unity Government, political parties which have not engaged with the military junta and pro-democratic forces, in order to solve the crisis of Myanmar timely and practically.
Adopted by consensus by the Special Session of the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw held on 8 May, 2023.
