Pressure the Burma Military to End Attacks in Karen State and Condemn the Coup
U.S Secretary of the States Antony Blinken
As concerned citizens of the United States, we are writing to bring your attention to what is happening in Karen State, Burma. On February 1, 2021, Burma Military staged a new coup against the democratically elected civilian government led by National League for Democracy. We are deeply appalled by this undemocratic attempt by the Burma military to continue abusing their power. This coup is a major setback for Burma’s democratic transition, peace, and stability in the region.
Since early December 2020 the Burma Army has been deliberately firing artillery shells into Karen villages in violation of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed by the government and the Karen National Union. The attacks against civilians are taking place in Mutraw (Papun) and Kler Lwe Htoo (Nyaungle bin) districts of northern Karen State.
Over 5,000 people are now hiding in the jungle without food and shelter as a direct result of mortar shelling and increased militarization by the Burma Army. According to the Karen Women’s Organization, the shelling resulted in the death of a village chief and severely injured an 11-year old boy. Humanitarian assistance has been restricted and relief groups have been prevented from reaching displaced civilians, who are urgently in need of food, shelters, and medical supplies.
The United States has been silent about these attacks, despite being one of the major donors to the Joint Peace Fund, which is supposed to support the peace process in Burma. The US media has also been silent.
Furthermore, since 2012, the United States has provided nearly $1.5 billion to support Burma’s democratic transition and economic transformation, advance the peace process, and improve the lives of millions, including by assisting communities affected by violence and through combating hate speech and communal violence (U.S Relations With Burma, 2020).
We are urging the US government to take following actions:
- Urge the military to immediately cease these attacks and withdraw their troops from Karen territories, so that inclusive peace negotiations can begin
- Suspend all US funding to Burma peace process until the Burma Army stop violating the terms of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
- Encourage international donors to suspend all funding for the peace process until the military ends its attack against all ethnic minority groups
- Impose strict economic sanctions on the military and its affiliated companies
- Pressure the military to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law and release those being detained
Karen Organization of America
Karenorgamerica@gmail.com
Please email or call your U.S. representative.
Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative's office.
When you reach your representative's office, ask to be connected to the staffer responsible for foreign policy. (Before being connected, ask for the spelling of the staffer's name and their email address.)
Leave your name, number, and city of residence to indicate that you live in the representative's district.
Follow up with an email to the staffer. (The staffer's email will follow this format: "[first name].[last name]@mail.house.gov".)
If you do not live in the United States, please share this action with your American friends.
Also, I created a petition on change.org. Click Here http://chng.it/Mm6G7jSMSL
And share this action widely with your friends and family
You may also donate to the following organizations:
You may contact the Karen Organization of America.
Donation: Saw Nay Htoo 651-529-5066
Some people are asking where to donate. I also created a donation page on paypal. https://paypal.me/pools/c/8wpZ31YD86
Events:
Karen Organization of America Hosting “ a rally to condemn Burma Army’s attacks on Karen villagers in Northern Karen State, Burma.
Date: February 6, 2021 at 11am
Location: Burma Embassy, Washington DC
Contact: Karen organization of America
Poe Eh (402-739-2934), greh Moo (252-571-7634), Kler Eh Soe (315-316-7722):
Email: karenorgamerica@gmail.com
Petition by
To:
U.S Secretary of the States Antony Blinken
From:
[Your Name]
As concerned citizens of the United States, we are writing to bring your attention to what is happening in Karen State, Burma. On February 1, 2021, Burma Military staged a new coup against the democratically elected civilian government led by National League for Democracy. We are deeply appalled by this undemocratic attempt by the Burma military to continue abusing their power. This coup is a major setback for Burma’s democratic transition, peace, and stability in the region.
Since early December 2020 the Burma Army has been deliberately firing artillery shells into Karen villages in violation of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed by the government and the Karen National Union. The attacks against civilians are taking place in Mutraw (Papun) and Kler Lwe Htoo (Nyaungle bin) districts of northern Karen State.
Over 5,000 people are now hiding in the jungle without food and shelter as a direct result of mortar shelling and increased militarization by the Burma Army. According to the Karen Women’s Organization, the shelling resulted in the death of a village chief and severely injured an 11-year old boy. Humanitarian assistance has been restricted and relief groups have been prevented from reaching displaced civilians, who are urgently in need of food, shelters, and medical supplies.
The United States has been silent about these attacks, despite being one of the major donors to the Joint Peace Fund, which is supposed to support the peace process in Burma. The US media has also been silent.
Furthermore, since 2012, the United States has provided nearly $1.5 billion to support Burma’s democratic transition and economic transformation, advance the peace process, and improve the lives of millions, including by assisting communities affected by violence and through combating hate speech and communal violence (U.S Relations With Burma, 2020).
We are urging the US government to take following actions:
-Urge the military to immediately cease these attacks and withdraw their troops from Karen territories, so that inclusive peace negotiations can begin
-Suspend all US funding to Burma peace process until the Burma Army stop violating the terms of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
-Encourage international donors to suspend all funding for the peace process until the military ends its attack against all ethnic minority groups
-Impose strict economic sanctions on the military and its affiliated companies
-Pressure the military to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law and release those being detained
Thank you for your concern and help for the Karen people and people of Burma.