Statement of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. on the Situation in Myanmar

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March 22, 2021

We, the undersigned Board of Trustees, staff, alumni, facilitators, and volunteers of the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute Foundation, Inc. (MPI) from Asia-Pacific and other parts of the world, express our full support to our fellow alumni from Myanmar and their people in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. We strongly condemn the escalation of violent repression of peaceful protesters across the country.

Established in 2000 as an Asian peacebuilding training institute, MPI provides learning opportunities and initiatives for nonviolence and peacebuilding that enhance peacebuilders’ capacity for conflict transformation throughout Asia-Pacific and the world. MPI has trained over 40 peace advocates from Myanmar, whom we fear are now facing uncertainties and grave insecurity for their lives and the lives of their families and co-workers. Many of them have been actively engaged in peacebuilding work in Myanmar for many years now.

The Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute is appalled by the escalation of violence in Myanmar at the hands of the country’s military. The killing of demonstrators, arbitrary arrests, and reported torture of prisoners violate fundamental human rights and stand in clear defiance of calls throughout the world for restraint, dialogue, and a return to Myanmar’s democratic path.

We are alarmed about recent reports that, as of March 22, 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners based in Mae Sot, Thailand, 261 peaceful demonstrators have been killed with many more wounded since the coup started on February 1, 2021. 2,682 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced, with 2,302 still under detention or who have outstanding charges/evading arrest. There are many more cases of missing or disappearances as families do not know where their loved ones are. Two Members of Parliament of the duly elected democratic government were tortured and killed.

The world must not allow this situation to continue unchecked. This is merely the beginning of the horror that will continue to unfold if the international community does not take a stand immediately. As such, we call on the international community to hold the Myanmar military accountable for its violations of human rights and to pursue justice for the people of Myanmar, including the restoration of Myanmar’s elected government. We need the unity of the international community to use every peaceful means possible to stop this situation.

We support the UN Human Rights Council’s 47 members’ vote to adopt Resolution A/HRC/S-29/L.1, which called for the immediate and unconditional release of all persons arbitrarily detained in Myanmar, including political detainees, and the lifting of the state of emergency; and stressed the need to refrain from violence and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. Secretary-General António Guterres has also urged the international community to work collectively and bilaterally to help bring an end to the repression by the military.

We also call on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to urgently adopt measures in line with its Political-Security Community that ensures regional cooperation on peace, conflict prevention, and conflict resolution. Myanmar, along with the other ASEAN members, pledged to rely exclusively on peaceful processes in the settlement of intra-regional differences and regard their security as fundamentally linked to one another and bound by geographic location, common vision, and objectives.
We urge the UN and ASEAN to act decisively to prevent more deaths. Tens of millions of Myanmar people lay awake every night fearing for their lives and uncertain of the horrors that may befall them.

We stand in solidarity with our fellow alumni from Myanmar and their people in calling for the end to violence and repression in the country. Please hear their plight and take action immediately to save Myanmar.

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