On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup and grabbed political power from the people’s elected representatives in pursuit of their own interests. While anti-coup demonstrations are taking place across Myanmar, in the ethnic regions military offensives are increasing and people are being displaced by the on-going armed conflict. The root of these decades-long civil wars is the Myanmar Military’s culture of trying to solve political problems through military force; which causes immense suffering and further darkens the future of all indigenous peoples in Myanmar. The ALL BURMA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ALLIANCE stand in complete solidarity with the people who are protesting against the newly installed Myanmar military dictatorship, and strongly condemn the 1 February 2021 coup d’état. It appeal to the international community for intervention through every possible means to protect the peaceful demonstrators from violent crackdown. 

ALL BURMA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ALLIANCE  

Emergency Appeal to the International Community and Nations Across the World on the Current Situation of the Military Coup in Myanmar  

Date: 12 February 2021

The All Burma Indigenous Peoples Alliance speak here on behalf of the indigenous peoples who have for generations suffered different forms of oppression under the Myanmar military for generations, both under previous dictatorial regimes and under governments established after the 2008 constitution.

The indigenous peoples in Myanmar are the peoples who have experienced civil war in our lands, systematic violation of our human rights, and the exploitation of our natural resources.

While the whole world is fighting against the COVID-19 in unity, on 1 February 2021 the Myanmar military staged a coup and grabbed political power from the people’s elected representatives in pursuit of their own interests.

We, therefore,

1. Stand in complete solidarity with the people who protest against all forms of dictatorship including the newly installed Myanmar military dictatorship, and strongly condemn the 1 February 2021 coup d’état;

2. Appeal to the international community and nations across the world to punish the people who are involved in the coup with severe and effective actions;

3. Appeal to the international community for intervention through every possible means to protect the peaceful demonstrators from violent crackdown and unwarranted arrest;

4. Appeal to the international community to pressure the new military regime from all sides by  demanding the immediate release of all political prisoners and by publicly supporting the ongoing civil disobedience movement to remove the newly installed military dictatorship;

5. Appeal to the international community to take actions against the Myanmar military’s decades-long strategy of targeting ethnic civilians while engaging in armed conflict with non-state ethnic armed forces;

6. Appeal to the international community to adopt a new approach to dealing with the Myanmar military so as to assist in the creation of a new path towards the development of a federal democratic system in Myanmar.

While anti-coup demonstrations are taking place across Myanmar, in the ethnic regions military offensives are increasing and people are being displaced by the on-going armed conflict. The root of these decades-long civil wars is the Myanmar Military’s culture of trying to solve political problems through military force; which causes immense suffering and further darkens the future of all indigenous peoples in Myanmar.

We believe that peaceful co-existence among the people in Myanmar will only be achieved when there  is total freedom from military dictatorship and the creation of a new federal democratic constitution which fully guarantees the right to indigenous self-determination and is collectively written by all concerned stakeholders including indigenous peoples.