Remarks by Elaisa Vahnie at the National Virtual Protest against the Myanmar (Burma) Coup
Via ZOOM, Indianapolis
March 20, 2021
Elaisa Vahnie: Let me begin my remarks by sending my warmest greetings and my respect to all of you who are joining our event tonight. This is amazing to see so many colleagues and friends; I heard that more than 10,000 registered for this National Virtual Protest: the first of its kind creatively and efficiently organized by the US Advocacy Coalition of Myanmar—so let me offer mine and our special thanks to Honey Lian, Sandra Kong and the team for putting this together nicely.
We have come here today together not only to reject and once again condemn the Burmese military seizure of the power, but also to show solidarity with millions of our brothers and sisters inside the country, and to help restore the democratic process and to achieve a federal democratic Union in Myanmar. As we all know, the Burmese military Generals staged a coup on February 1st following the general elections on November 8th, which resulted in the National League for Democracy party, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, securing a landslide victory. Instead of respecting the will of the people and allowing the democratic process to proceed, the generals detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, Vice President U Henry Van Thio, and other leaders.
Of course the people had no choice but to resist the actions of this unlawful military regime. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against this dictatorship. However, the coup leaders have responded to peaceful protesters with increasingly inhumane and brutal displays of force, killing over 200 innocent people and detaining thousands. These cruel actions are a reflection of the impunity culture deeply embedded within the Burmese military who have used arbitrary arrests, rape, and torture as weapons of fear, and literally murdered and killed thousands of ethnic minorities –children, women and men, as part of ethnic cleansing policy — for more than half a century.
We are witnessing horrible violent actions of the Burmese military which repeats its grave crimes time and again, which is continuing to commit such crimes as we speak, and many people are wondering now will we actually be able to withstand the military’s brutality and regain our freedom? The answer is yes. YES!
First of all, we must recognize that Myanmar’s political crisis is deeply rooted in ethnic conflict. And this ethnic conflict has to be addressed fundamentally through constitutional and institutional redesign. That constitution design must be based on the principles and spirit of the Panglong Agreement, which guarantees equality and the rights of all ethnic groups under a federal democratic union, with a particular emphasis on the reformation of the defense and security sector—that is to establish a “Federal Army” to ensure that the Burmese military is rooted out of national politics and is placed firmly under a civilian government.
The ongoing crisis we are facing today offers a perfect opportunity to achieve this reform. But to achieve this goal, we must be united and know what we do and we should today.
First, one of the key, the most important factors in this revolution is the people’s power. This people’s movement, peaceful protests, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) movement must continue and sustain. This is the most critical power that will help us beat the military dictatorship once and for all. And I am heartened and indeed encouraged to see you all—Burmese-Americans, Myanmar Diasporas and our friends being helping hands to ensure the success of the people’s movement.
Second, the Committee Representing Pyidawtungsu Hlutttaw (CRPH) will need to continue to lead us in this fight. As Dr. Sasa has mentioned in his remarks, we all must support the CRPH’s efforts to form a National Union Government that brings together a coalition of the 2020 elected Members of Parliament, ethnic minority forces, and diverse and inclusive stakeholders, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), General Strike Committees, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), women’s groups and others. I have every confidence that this interim Government will be able to coordinate effectively and as quickly as possible key aspects of our movement, and will also able to produce a federalist constitution as soon as possible.
But in this effort, we also need the support of the international community.
The United States must continue to lead the international community’s effort to help address the crisis in Myanmar effectively.
We applaud President Biden for his leadership, for strongly condemning the coup, and declaring a “national emergency” of the US, duly recognizing that the Burmese military’s actions “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”. In addition, the US took additional measures, imposing new restrictions aimed at the military junta and their associates on March 4 and additional sanctions on March 10. And at least three resolutions on Myanmar have been introduced in the US Congress. As many of you have heard, the House resolution “condemning the coup in Burma and calling for measures to ensure the safety of the Burmese people, including Rohingya, who have been threatened and displaced by a campaign of genocide conducted by the Burmese military” just passed yesterday. I was just informed this evening by the staffers at the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that the Senate bill will be voted out of the committee this week and we hope it will pass in the Senate soon after. As much as we are grateful for the support of the US President and the US Congress, we are asking more from them and from the international community. We ask that the US and the international community:
1) To recognize and strongly support the Myanmar interim government that we hope it coming out on April 1st;
2) To Impose tougher, coordinated, and targeted sanctions on the military junta and its associates;
3) We are also asking the US to bring forward a resolution at the UN Security Council, including invoking Chapter VII authority under the UN Charter and the article of Responsibility to Protect (R2P). And such an effort is likely to fail because China and Russia will certainly veto. In such a case, the US and its allies—like-minded actors, such as Canada, France, UK —should consider humanitarian intervention outside the existing legal framework of the UN mechanisms, including providing resources to the EOAs for self-defense;
4) The international community must also utilize as fast as and as effectively as possible the UN Mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Council, the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to fully investigate and continue to hold accountable the Burmese military leaders for gross violations of human rights, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide;
5) One of the most crucial things – the situation of the poor and the most vulnerable people in the country has been exacerbated by this crisis. So we are asking the US and the international community to redouble humanitarian assistance for the people of Myanmar, ensuring this assistance flows directly to the hands of civilians and the most vulnerable people through the NGOs, and CSOs, including through cross-border delivery.
But I have seen the display of incredible courage and determination of the people who are fighting this battle at the forefront of everyone on the ground. I am also seeing Unity among all people of Myanmar — Burman, Non-Burman ethnic minorities —Chin, Kachin, Karen, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine, Shan— when it comes to establishing a federalist democracy, just like we have shown today right here. I am further seeing the international community is standing firmly with the people of Myanmar and is ready to support with any help that we need to achieve our goal – that is to end the culture and institution of the military junta once and for all.
In conclusion, allow me to send my honor and respect to our HEROES who have given their lives in defense of our freedoms. We do not have a choice, but with this united force, to continue to fight this unfinished fight and to fight till this fight is over — that is when we will be declaring our victory. The victory is ours. Taw Hlan Yay Aung Yah Mae!
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