Six months have passed since the military coup in Myanmar. The situation has become a humanitarian crisis as anti- coup protests and violent crackdown continue in the country. So far, more than 1000 people have been killed and many more wounded by the security forces. More than 5000 people are currently in detention and reports state that many have been tortured while in detention. Thousands of people have been displaced and some have fled to neighboring countries for refuge. This crisis worsened in the past month with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the overwhelmed healthcare system, 15, 287 COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded as at 30 August 2021 but the real number is believed to be much higher.
There is a larger concern of the violence extending beyond Myanmar’s borders. Myanmar nationals living abroad have strongly spoken about the delays in humanitarian assistance to the affected people. It is crucial that necessary measures to mitigate the humanitarian crisis and support people’s claims for democratic and political independence are addressed at manifold levels.
With the reduced media attention on the situation in Myanmar, SAHR realizes the critical importance of continued solidarity with the people of Myanmar and calls for an end to the humanitarian crisis in in the aftermath of the coup for urgent action.
SAHR, representing South Asians, stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar who have risked their lives in demanding peace and political independence. We support their demands to restore the democratic order and for Myanmar’s elected leaders to be released immediately.
SAHR’s initiatives to strengthen the call of the people of Myanmar include:
1. A Webpage dedicated to Myanmar people’s struggle for democracyThis Webpage consists of published articles and statements related to the coup and the situation in Myanmar which will be updated weekly.
2. Podcast by Dr Khin Zaw Win
In these two Podcasts Dr Khin Zaw Win from Myanmar shares his views about the coup and the situation in Myanmar. Dr Khin Zaw Win is the Director of Tampadipa Institute in Yangon, working on policy advocacy on communal issues, land and nationalism. He was a prisoner of conscience in Myanmar for “seditious writings” and human rights work from 1994 – 2005.
First Podcast – the history of Myanmar and the background to the military coup.
Second Podcast – the commencement of the people’s resistance and the way forward to attain peace and political dependence and in a democratic governance structure.
To view the press release on our website, Please click here.