We, the undersigned organisations, call on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to refrain from merely advocating for inclusive national dialogue in Myanmar that undermine efforts and the will of Myanmar people. ASEAN must take concrete actions to fulfil the demands made by the people of Myanmar to establish a federal democratic union and bring the illegal military junta and Min Aung Hlaing to justice for committing mass atrocity crimes.

We took note of the update provided by the ASEAN Office of the Special Envoy on Myanmar as led by H.E. Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya–representing Indonesia as the current ASEAN Chair–and attended by a representative from Laos, the next Chair of the regional bloc. The update concerned the separate exchanges it had with various stakeholders, including representatives from the military junta and the National Unity Government (NUG) on 22–23 November 2023.^[1]

While the inclusion of legitimate representatives of the Spring Revolution and the NUG in any efforts to address the crisis in Myanmar is welcome, our concern persists with the ASEAN’s continued push for the realisation of the failed ASEAN Five-Point Consensus (5PC) and the call for “inclusive national dialogue”, failing to address the root cause of the intensifying atrocity crimes across Myanmar by the Myanmar military. In particular, the message conveyed by the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia that “inclusive dialogue and political solutions are the only viable solutions to address the crisis in Myanmar” disrespects and undermines the immense sacrifices the people of Myanmar, especially the young generations, that call for an end to the military tyranny and to achieve a genuine federal democracy since the military’s attempted coup in February 2021.

At the margins of the ASEAN Summit in May 2023, more than hundreds of local and global civil society organisations called for the ASEAN to move beyond its failed 5PC, asserting that it has emboldened the illegal junta to commit further crimes and exacerbate the suffering of the people of Myanmar. As an alternative, the groups proposed the Five Counter Points, one of which stressed the necessity for ASEAN to “secure an enabling environment where federal democracy forces and stakeholders are guaranteed agency, respect, and security” prior to calling for an inclusive dialogue for all stakeholders–a condition that includes the immediate cessation of the junta’s violence, persecution, and attacks on democracy forces as well as its collective punishment against the population.^[2]

Similar positions were also conveyed by the Myanmar Spring’s Young Revolutionaries during their meeting and exchange with the H.E. Ambassador Ngurah Swajaya as the Head of Special Envoy in July 2023. Among other messages, the youth stressed the need for ASEAN to move beyond the ineffective 5PC, to cease all engagements with the junta, and to work together with the Spring Revolution to establish a federal democracy in Myanmar.^[3]

In September 2023, civil society groups conducted the people’s hearing to present testimonies from survivors on the gross human rights violations committed by the military junta since the attempted coup in February 2021 and expert opinions and recommendations to ASEAN. Evident in these testimonies are indiscriminate air attacks and bombings, destruction of food sources and valuables, collective punishment, killings, torture, rape, ill-treatment of detainees, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, among other issues. Recommendations from the regional experts included the need for ASEAN “to cooperate with the United Nations and establish an ASEAN-backed mechanism or tribunal that will be able to receive communications and hear evidence of human rights violations and to take accountability measures against the perpetrators.”^[4]

It is extremely alarming that despite all these efforts from the civil society and the fact that it has claimed to conduct over 180 engagements with various stakeholders in 2023, ASEAN has yet to align its efforts with the Myanmar people’s very own demands and failed to recognise the military junta as the root cause of the all-out war nationwide.

ASEAN has failed to hold the military junta accountable for committing crimes against humanity and war crimes, amounting to mass atrocities. The bloc’s efforts have so far failed to match the call of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to refer the crisis in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.^[5] Instead, ASEAN continues to invite junta representatives to various ASEAN meetings, including to the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting and even allows the junta to be the Chair of the ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference under the Chairship of Indonesia, during which time it launched 20 airstrikes against civilians^[6]. ASEAN also persistently calls all parties for negotiations with the perpetrator of mass atrocity crimes, which to date has arrested more than 25,000 people, killed more than 4,200^[7] and torched at least 76,000 properties^[8].

We echo the sentiments stated by the NUG, “without the assurance of ending the military dictatorship and establishing a federal democratic union, without the genuine will of the people, spring forces and alliances, and without a guarantee of a transitional period where justice is fully upheld, there will be no engagement.”

We therefore urge all ASEAN leaders, the ASEAN Office of the Special Envoy on Myanmar, and all related ASEAN stakeholders and UN and dialogue partners of ASEAN not to endorse Indonesia’s imposed “inclusive dialogue” while the military junta’s ongoing brutality is yet to be addressed.

We call on ASEAN to respect, recognise and prioritise the aspirations of the Myanmar people by ceasing the current imposed “inclusive dialogue” process that is undermining extraordinary efforts of Myanmar’s Spring Revolutionary forces. Instead, the regional bloc must work together with the UNSC to take more concrete, coordinated action to halt the atrocities committed by the ruthless military junta and help bring the junta to justice through international justice mechanisms. ASEAN must set the goal and make the most of its unique position to assist in establishing a genuine federal democracy in Myanmar as aspired by its very own people.

For more information, please contact:

• Khin Ohmar, Progressive Voice; [email protected]
• Communication and Media Programme, FORUM-ASIA; [email protected]

Signed by 601 Myanmar, regional and international organizations including 250 organizations who have chosen to not disclose their name:

1. 5/ of Zaya State Strike
2. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
3. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (AAMMC) Sydney
4. Action Committee for Democracy Development (Coalition of 14 Grassroots Networks)
5. Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
6. Action Group for Democracy and Human Rights
7. Active Youths Kalaymyo
8. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
9. All Arakan Students’ & Youths’ Congress – AASYC
10. All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
11. All Burma Democratic Face
12. All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
13. All Burma Student Democratic Front – Australia Branch
14. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
15. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU -Yangon)
16. ALTSEAN-Burma
17. Alyansa Tigil Mina
18. Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC – Mandalay)
19. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon – AJAY
20. Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
21. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMDN)
22. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
23. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
24. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
25. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
26. Association of United Nationality in Japan (AUN)
27. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
28. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
29. Auckland Zomi Community
30. Aung San Su Kyi Park, Norway
31. Australia Burma Friendship Association, Northern Territory
32. Australia Karen Organization WA Inc.
33. Australia Myanmar Doctors, Nurses and Friends
34. Australia Myanmar Youth Alliance (AMYA)
35. Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
36. Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
37. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
38. AwazCDS-Pakistan
39. A-Yar-Taw People Strike
40. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation AWDO (Minbu )
41. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation AWDO (Nagphe)
42. Bamar Community Tasmania
43. Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)
44. Blood Money Campaign
45. BMT counselling
46. Boat People SOS
47. Burma Action Ireland
48. Burma Campaign UK
49. Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
50. Burma Refugee Saving Association (B.R.S.A)
51. Burmese Community – South Australia
52. Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
53. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
54. Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
55. Burmese Friendship Association
56. Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
57. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
58. Burmese Women’s Union
59. Cambodian Human Right and Development Association (ADHOC)
60. Canberra Karen Association
61. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
62. Centre for Human Rights and Development Mongolia (CHRD)
63. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
64. Chin Community – South Australia
65. Chin Community in Norway
66. Chin Community of Auckland
67. Chin Community of Japan (CCJ)
68. Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
69. Chin Community Tasmania
70. Chin Youth Organization
71. Chin Youth Organization of Japan (CYO-JP)
72. Citizen of Burma Award – New Zealand
73. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
74. Civil Information Network (CIN)
75. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
76. Colorful Spring (ရောင်စုံနွေဦး)
77. Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence
78. Creative Home
79. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
80. CRPH Funding Ireland
81. CRPH Support Group, Norway and members organizations endorses
82. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland
83. CRPH/NUG support group Australia
84. Dawei Defense Team
85. Dawei Youths in Japan (DYJ)
86. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
87. Defence of Human Rights
88. Defend Myanmar Democracy
89. Democracy for Burma
90. Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
91. Democratic Youth Council
92. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
93. Dhobama (2021 Generation)
94. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
95. Dragon Dawn
96. Dunedin Myanmar Community New Zealand
97. Educational Initiatives Prague
98. Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
99. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
100. ETOs Watch Coalition
101. Falam Community – South Australia
102. Federal Corner
103. Federal Health Workforce
104. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
105. Federation of Worker’s Union of Burmese Citizens in Japan (FWUBC)
106. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa)
107. Freedom and Labor Action Group (FLAG)
108. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
109. Future Thanlwin
110. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
111. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
     1. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
     2. Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
     3. Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
112. General Strike Committee of Nationalities (Tavoyan)
113. Generation Wave
114. GenY For Revolution Japan
115. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
116. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution – Japan
117. Globe International Center
118. Green Network
119. Hope For Youth – Kyushu Japan
120. Human Rights Educators Network
121. Human Rights Now
122. In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND)
123. Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
124. Indonesia Legal and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
125. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
126. Info Birmanie
127. Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID)
128. Inlihtan Peninsula Tenasserim
129. Institute for Asian Democracy
130. Inter Pares
131. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
132. International Legal Initiative Foundation (ILI)
133. International Society of Myanmar Scholars and Professionals (Japan)
134. Japan Myanmar Future Creative Association (JMFCA)
135. Japan Myanmar Help Network – JMHN
136. JMC Inn Lay
137. Joint Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (JACDB)
138. Justice 4 Myanmar – Hope & Development
139. Justice For All – Burma Task Force
140. Justice For Myanmar
141. Kachin Affairs Organization – Japan (KAO (Japan)
142. Kachin Association Australia
143. Kachin Association Norway
144. Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
145. Kachin Student Union
146. Kalay Township Strike Committee
147. Kansai Group Japan
148. Karen Community – South Australia
149. Karen Human Rights Group
150. Karen National League Japan – KNL
151. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
152. Karenni Association – Norway
153. Karenni Community of Western Australia Inc.
154. Karenni Federation of Australia
155. Karenni Human Rights Group
156. Karenni National Society (KNS)Japan
157. Karenni Society New Zealand
158. Kayin Community Tasmania
159. Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law
160. K’cho Ethnic Association
161. KnowUsMoreMyanmar (KUM)
162. Kobe Myanmar Community (KMC)
163. KontraS
164. Kyae Lak Myay
165. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
166. Kyauktada Strike Committee
167. Kyaw Women Association
168. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
169. League For Democracy in Burma (L.D.B Japan)
170. Legal Aid for Human Rights
171. LGBT Alliance
     1. LGBT Union – Mandalay
     2. Monywa LGBT Strike
     3. LGBT Community Yangon
     4. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
     5. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
172. Los Angeles Myanmar Movement (LA2M)
173. Madarpur Legal Aid Association (MLAA)
174. MAGGA Initiative
175. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
176. Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)
177. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
178. Mandalay Regional Youth Association Revolution Core Group
179. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
     1. Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
     2. Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
     3. Mya Taung Strike
     4. Mandalar University Students’ Strike
     5. Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
     6. Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
     7. Mandalay Youth Strike
     8. 12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
     9. Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
     10. Mandalay-based People’s Strike
     11. Multi-Religions Strike
     12. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
     13. Daung Sitthe Strike
     14. Seinpann Strike
     15. Industries Strike
180. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
181. Matu Burma Foundation
182. Matu Chin Community – South Australia
183. MayMyo Strike Force
184. Metta Campaign
185. Min Hla Farmers Group
186. Minbu Farmers Group
187. Mindat Chin Community NSW
188. Mindat Community – South Australia
189. Mizo Community – South Australia
190. Mon Association – Norway
191. Mon Families Group
192. Mon National Council (MNC)
193. Mon Youth For Federal Democracy (MYFD)
194. Monywa – Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
195. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
     1. All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
     2. Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
     3. National League for Democracy (Monywa Township)
     4. The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
     5. Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
     6. Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
     7. Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
196. Myanmar Accountability Project
197. Myanmar anti-military coup movement in New Zealand
198. Myanmar Baptist Churches in Norway
199. Myanmar Buddhist Community of South Australia
200. Myanmar Campaign Network
201. Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
202. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
203. Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand
204. Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand
205. Myanmar Community in Norway
206. Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
207. Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
208. Myanmar Development Support Group (MDSG)
209. Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
210. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
211. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
212. Myanmar Hindu Community – Norway
213. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
214. Myanmar Muslim Organization – Norway
215. Myanmar Muslim Revolution Force
216. Myanmar Nationalities’ Support Organization – JP (MNSO)
217. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
218. Myanmar People Residing in Canberra
219. Myanmar Spring Revolution Japan (MSRJ)
220. Myanmar Student Union,  (ABFSU), San Francisco, US
221. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
222. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
223. Myanmar Tozan Club (MTC)
224. Myanmar Youth and Student Association, Japan (MYSA)
225. Myanmar’s Youth Association Hokkaido (MYAH)
226. Myaung Youth Network
227. MyaYar Knowledge Tree
228. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
229. National Advocacy Group – New Zealand
230. National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
231. Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand
232. New Power Generation
233. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
234. New Zealand Karen Association
235. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
236. NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
237. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
238. Norway Falam Community
239. Norway Matu Community
240. Norway Rawang Community
241. NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
242. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
243. Odhikar
244. Okinawa Myanmar Association (OMA)
245. Overseas Mon Association. New Zealand
246. Oway Institute
247. Owl Community
248. Palaung National Society Japan, PNS – Japan
249. Palaw Supporting Group – Japan
250. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
251. Parchern River Conservation and Development
252. Partido Manggagawa
253. Patriotic War Vetrans of Burma (PWVB)
254. People’s Hope Spring Revolution (PHSR)
255. People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy(PSPD)
256. Perth Myanmar Youth Network
257. Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI)
258. Progressive Voice
259. Punnyakari Mon National Society Japan,PMNS-Japan
260. Pwintphyu Development Organisation
261. Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
262. Pyit Taing Htaung Social Club
263. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
264. Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
265. Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
266. Queensland Rohingya Community
267. Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
268. Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
269. Revolution Tokyo Myanmar (RTM)
270. Rohingya Community in Norway
271. Rural Community Development Society
272. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
273. Salingyi Subcommittee
274. Save and Care Organization for Women at Border Areas
275. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
276. Save Myanmar San Francisco
277. Save Myanmar USA
278. Shan Community (New Zealand)
279. Shan Community in Japan (SCJ)
280. SHAPE-SEA
281. Shizu Youth For Myanmar
282. Shwe Pan Kone People`s Strike Steering Committee
283. Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
284. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
285. Social Garden
286. Sone See Yar (Volunteer Group)
287. Southcare Medical Centre
288. Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
289. Southern Dragon Myanmar
290. Southern Monitor
291. Southern Youth Development Organization
292. Spring Revolution Restaurant ( SRR )
293. Spring Traveller
294. Student Voice
295. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
296. Sujata Sisters Group (NZ)
297. Support for Myanmar
298. Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
299. Ta Mar Institute of Development
300. Tai Youths Network Japan (TYNJ)
301. Tanintharyi Nationalities Congress
302. Taze Strike Committee
303. Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB)
304. The ants Humanitarian aid Team
305. The Institution of Professional Engineers Myanmar (IPEM)
306. The Ladies
307. The Mekong Butterfly
308. True Colors Coalition
309. Try Together At Japan (TTAJ)
310. Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
311. S. Campaign for Burma
312. Union of Myanmar Citizen Association – Japan
313. United Myanmar Community of South Australia
314. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
315. Victorian Burmese Care Community (VBCC)
316. Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
317. Voice For Justice
318. Volunteers in Myanmar
319. We Are One Saga MOSA
320. We for All
321. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
322. We Support
323. Western Australia Myanmar Community (WAMC)
324. Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network (WAMDN)
325. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
326. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
327. Women Activists Myanmar (WAM)
328. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar
329. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
     1. Mandalay Women Strike
     2. Yangon Women Strike
     3. Monywa Women Strike
     4. Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
     5. Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
     6. Kalay Women Strike
     7. Depayin Women Strike
     8. Taze Women Strike
     9. Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
     10. Gangaw Women Strike
     11. Thayat Chaung Women Strike
     12. Wetlet Twonship Women Strike
330. Women’s Peace Network
331. WOREC Nepal
332. Worker’s Information Centre (WIC)
333. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
334. Yadanar Foundation
335. Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
336. Yaw Funding Japan
337. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
338. Yokohama Pamphlet Campaign – Myanmar
339. Youth for democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
340. Youth Heart Beams
341. Zo Community – South Australia
342. Zomi Association Australia Inc.
343. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
344. Zomi Community – South Australia
345. Zomi Community Norway
346. Zomi Community Queensland
347. ခုနစ်စဥ်ကြယ်
348. ဂျပန်ပြည်မှတွဲလက်များ
349. ဒို့မြေကွန်ရက် – LIOH
350. ပွင့်ဖြူလယ်ယာမြေကွန်ရက်
351. သောင်ရင်းသတင်းလွှာ

^[1]https://kemlu.go.id/portal/en/read/5545/berita/office-of-the-special-envoy-engagements-with-myanmar-stakeholders-jakarta-20-22-november-2023

^[2]https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Updated_ASEAN_PositionPaper_FINAL_5May2023.pdf

^[3]https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2023/07/07/press-statement-myanmar-springs-young-revolutionaries-meet-with-head-of-the-asean-special-envoy-office-and-express-concern-over-aseans-continued-failure-to-address-myanmar-crisis/

^[4] https://forum-asia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FINAL_Letter_to_ASEAN_Leaders_Myanmar_Day.pdf

^[5] https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2023/09/myanmar-turk-calls-new-thinking-end-unspeakable-tragedy

^[6] https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/junta-airstrikes-09182023062443.html

^[7] https://aappb.org/

^[8] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zRtmvjLONqW3hNx6pQFyg_g0h5vxEaLXISaaITpzAcM/edit#gid=0