Political Violence

All those suffering violence at the hands of the military need our support - please send the following letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney

Dear Minister Coveney,

I am writing to you to express my deep concern over the horrific escalation of violence used against those protesting against Myanmar’s military and the coup staged on February 1st. 

As you are aware, millions of people across the country have participated in peaceful protests demonstrating their opposition to the coup.  Disproportion violence and terror tactics have been used to repress peaceful demonstrations, culminating in a day of horrific violence, essentially a massacre on March 27th, when at least 114 civilians were killed, including children.  Also, air strikes were used against Karen villages.  Reports say that 3 died in this attack and more were injured.  More than 560 people have been killed in total by the military since the demonstrations began.  In addition, as of 4th of April, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 2,667 people have been arbitrarily detained, charged, or sentenced in relation to their opposition to the coup, with most denied access to legal counsel.  All of these events underline the need for urgent substantive international action. 

Since the coup, elected parliamentarians have formed the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), headed by Dr. SaSa. The CRPH condemned the coup, recognized the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and pledged its commitment to working towards the achievement of the long-sought goal of a federal union.

We ask that Ireland take a strong stance to enact the following:

In conjunction with the European Union, to immediately enact targeted sanctions on the military, military-affiliated companies and partners, such as Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and the Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC) Ltd.  It is necessary to considerably ratchet up the measures announced by the Council of the European Union on March 22nd and join with other, such as the US and the UK, in applying targeted sanctions.

Support a global arms embargo on Burma/Myanmar. The embargo should be accompanied by robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

Support the referral of Burma/Myanmar to the International Criminal Court so that members of the military can be held accountable for their crimes and violations of international law.

Together with the European Union and the UN Security Council, to deny recognition of the military junta as the legitimate government representing the people of Burma/Myanmar and to consider recognising the CRPH as the legitimate voice of the people of Burma/Myanmar

Furthermore, as a member of the UN and as a current member of the UN Security Council, we urge Ireland to support the recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tom Andrews, by taking the lead in establishing a coalition of nations committed to “taking strong, decisive and coordinated action…for the people of Myanmar”.

I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Simon Coveney
Dept. of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House, 80 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 or send by email to (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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