Open Letter from 268 civil society organizations to the Government of India to end its support for Myanmar junta and review its approach to current situation in Myanmar

In February 2021, the people of Myanmar staged nationwide protests against an attempted coup by the Myanmar military junta. When the junta responded to peaceful protests with widespread brutal crackdowns and rampage shootings, the people were forced into a resistance war to seek an end to a tyranny of brutal military rule and establish a federal democracy to resolve over seven decades of armed conflicts. However, as they are facing losses in many fronts, the junta has intensified its brutal campaign of terror against its own people dragging the country into the worst humanitarian crisis it has seen. Currently, Myanmar has 3.4 million Internally Displaced Persons, 1.2 million refugees in neighboring countries and 18.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

We understand that the Government of India has to prioritize the interest of its country in dealing with the situation in Myanmar. We also recognize humanitarian actions taken by Mizoram and other governments to help Myanmar refugees. However, we find Indian central government’s support for terror campaigns by Myanmar junta who are threatening regional stability while ignoring the atrocities of the junta, suffering of millions and the struggle for a federal democracy in Myanmar disheartening, shameful and an obsolete approach that no longer reflect a change of context in the country. Therefore, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, call on the Government of India to respect democracy, human rights and humanitarian principles and take the following actions to reconsider its current approach to situation in Myanmar.

1. Stop sale and transfer of arms and related materials to Myanmar junta. The terrorist Myanmar junta is a perpetrator of genocide. They also continue to commit serious violations of international crimes including war crimes and crimes against humanity to this day. It is a complicity in atrocity crimes as much as it is a shame for India as the world largest democracy to continue selling arms and military equipment to the junta which is facing multiple international courts proceedings. Therefore, we call on the Government of India to stop sale and transfer of any types of arms and related equipment to the terrorist Myanmar junta.

2. Avoid any engagements that can lend legitimacy to Myanmar junta. The international community including the United Nations, ASEAN and many individual democracy countries have refused to recognize the terrorist military junta as legitimate representative of Myanmar. Moreover, the people of Myanmar themselves have declared the junta a terrorist organization and fought a resistance war against them claiming significant victories both militarily and territorially. Under this context, current approach of India to continue exclusive engagement with the junta bears a high risk for its reputation and future bilateral relation with Myanmar. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to balance its approach by excluding the junta from participating in the BIMSTEC, avoiding any form of exclusive engagement with the junta especially high-level diplomatic engagement including through its foreign affairs minister that can lend legitimacy to the terrorist junta, and engaging with the revolutionary forces.

3. Avoid extending business cooperation with Myanmar junta. All incomes generated by the junta have been used for two purposes only: to purchase arms for killing the people and to expend business empires of its top leaders and their families. The people of Myanmar themselves have consistently urged all actors to cut the junta’s sources of revenue while they themselves have boycotted all products of military-owned businesses. Many democracy countries have also imposed various economic sanctions to limit the junta ability to purchase arms. Furthermore, with shrinking territories under its effective control, the junta is increasingly failing to protect its international business partnerships. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to refrain from extending and expending any type of business partnership with the terrorist junta against the will of Myanmar people and stop allowing Rupees-Kyats direct trading and efforts of other democratic countries.

4. Release all the refugee detainees in India and provide humanitarian assistances. There are estimated 70,000 Myanmar refugees taking shelter in India. However, they have no access to humanitarian assistances and are constantly facing threats of arrests and detentions. There are at least 250 Myanmar refugees who have fallen victims to lengthy arbitrary detentions. There is also an ongoing incitement of hate against Myanmar refugees portraying them as illegal settlers and trouble makers. We believe that it is more beneficial for both India and Myanmar in the long term for India to be a good friend of Myanmar people that shows humanitarian gestures at this difficult time, rather than seeking to be a loyal ally to the criminal military junta which is facing multiple court proceedings under internal jurisdictions. Therefore, we urge the Government of India to immediately release all the Myanmar refugee detainees and ensure swift access to humanitarian assistance for Myanmar refugees seeking safety in India.

With Unity

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