#MilkTeaAlliance Statement on a year since the attempted Coup in Myanmar, 1 February 2022

As of 20th Jan 2022, at least 2,164 people have been killed by the Junta and over 11,000 have been arbitrarily detained1 . The violence has been escalating2 against the peoples of Myanmar. Arbitrary detention, torture, rape, and murder have become commonplace. The Junta is implementing... airstrikes against civilians, razing towns... and villages and burning innocent civilians including aid workers4 . Its crimes are numerous and well-documented. Some international lawyers and the IIMM have assessed5 a number of its actions to be crimes against humanity, and violations of international humanitarian law. Since 1 Feb 2021, an estimated 320,900 people have been displaced...

Throughout the year, the peoples of Myanmar have stood in defiance to the takeover and violence against them. We continue to see protests, flash mobs, strikes and boycotts of Junta companies, and other civil disobedience actions all across Myanmar on a daily basis led by students, trade unions, LGBT+ groups and local strike committees... Programs working on encouraging defections have made an impact on the military... However much of the international community’s response has been lackluster...

To our friends & allies in the resistance

We recognise that the situation on the ground is incredibly hard and that the challenges faced are still significant.The toll the resistance is taking physically, emotionally on our friends is obvious, but also their determination to succeed and create a better, fairer, more inclusive future remains undiminished. We will continue to support you in every way that we can. We will raise up your cries for justice, your calls for action, we will share your campaigns and advocate to governments alongside the diaspora, we will continue to provide material resources and emotional support as best we can....

On this anniversary not only do we reiterate the calls we made in April11 to the international community, international bodies, INGOs and other actors but also make clear that more action needs to be taken:

1. Sanctions need to be stepped up. The fact that MOGE is still unsanctioned a year after the coup is reprehensible as it accounts for a significant amount of the foregin currency income that the Junta receives. This money is used to purchase arms and technology to use against the peoples of Myanmar & keep the Junta in power. Both the US and EU need to take steps to cut this source of income12. Beyond that there are many calls for different sanctions from different parts of the resistance. The NUG policy on sanctions has drawn many of these together and should be implemented.13

2. We call on the world to recognise the National Unity Government NUG, CRPH & NUCC... and to support them in working towards a genuine and inclusive federal democratic project, alongside all ethnic groups, EAOs, student & trade Unions & CSOs.

3. ... with at least 3 million14 people in need of humanitarian aid in Myanmar it is vital that international agencies ensure that their efforts reach those in need...

4. We call for more of the international community to support the struggle for justice by the Rohingya people...

5. To take actions to stop the Junta’s capacity to use airstrikes and other attacks on civilians. Both a Global Arms Embargo against the Junta and military No Fly Zone policy have been requested by allies on the ground. The UN General assembly has also earlier called for an arms embargo.