Written evidence from Ruth Stevens (MYA0004)

To Foreign Affairs Committee,

My name is Ms Ruth Stevens. I am a British citizen who worked and lived in Yangon for 3 years. As a teacher in a secondary Myanmar international school many of my Myanmar students voted for the first time in the November elections and secured places at British universities. I do believe that they would have been future leaders of Myanmar if it had not been for the recent military coup and the devastation that this continues to cause to the country. I write to you today in hope that the House of Commons will continue to utilize every avenue in order to restore their future and the democratic future of Myanmar. Although I am often sent first hand accounts and video’s from friends and ex students still living in the country, I do not feel I can refer to evidence given to me by people still in the country. Those who do speak out continue to be arrested and tortured and I will not put my contacts at risk by using any witness accounts from them.
 

1.       The sanctions on the military generals and Myanmar’s two military conglomerates - Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) have failed to prevent the atrocities being committed in the country. The violence on civilians has escalated including airstrikes in March on the civilians of Karen state, killing 6 and displacing some 13,000 civilians.[1] The increasing violence and military shootings in Mindat of this month.[2] Arbitrary arrests continue, recently deported journalist Yuki Kitazumi has spoken out about the torture of civilians in prison.[3]
 

2.      Military-owned companies depend largely on international trade. Sanctions on individuals will not cripple the finances of the regime. Continuing oil trade should be addressed at the G7 conference. Total continues to fund the military regime under the guise of its importance as an energy source.[4] As current G7 President I strongly urge you to champion coordinated international boycotts on businesses that are generating revenue for the military. 

3.      Possible actions for G7 discussion; suspension of operations in Myanmar and sanctioning Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). Coordinating unanimous sanctions on the Myanmar Timber Enterprise and Myanmar Pearl Enterprise in accordance with the US.[5] Coordinated guidelines on responsible trade and investments involving Myanmar should be agreed to.

4.      The military is performing airstrikes on civilians adding to the increasing refugee problem. A United Nations resolution proposing an arms embargo should be drafted to prevent further humanitarian crisis.  The United Kingdom, the council’s designated drafter of Myanmar texts, should immediately open negotiations at the Security Council on a draft resolution authorizing an arms embargo.[6]

5.      As stated in the Early Day Motions 1545 tabled by Labour Party MP Ali Rushanara on February 24, 2021, the UK needs to join the genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and ensure that Myanmar reports back to the Court about its compliance with the provisional orders. As the UN Security Council Penholder on Myanmar the UK should insist that General Min Aung Hlaing be investigated by the International Criminal Court for the persecution of Rohingya, Karen, Kachin, Chin and Shan people[7] and the atrocities committed since the coup.

6.      The UK should use the leverage of its position as the ASEAN Dialogue Partner to urge the ASEAN countries to give necessary aid. The increasing amount of displaced peoples due to the military airstrikes and ground attacks have resulted in the number of internally displaced persons rising sharply with thousands fleeing to India and Thailand. The UK should assert more pressure on the ASEAN leaders to follow the principle of non-refoulement under the international human rights law. No one should be forcibly returned to a place where they may be at risk of persecution.[8]

7.       As an ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK should call for the ASEAN leaders to invite the National Unity Government representatives to the international summit, conduct open relations with the NUG and consult NUG on the necessary humanitarian aid plans. The UK should also encourage the ASEAN to pressurize the military to uphold the five-point consensus agreement that includes cessation of violence and facilitation of a special envoy of the ASEAN to Myanmar.

8.      On April 07, 2021, the Myanmar Embassy in London was seized by the military attaché. The UK must declare non-recognition of the State Administration Council (SAC) as the government of Myanmar. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) statement regarding the embassy takeover and lack of follow-up action directly contradicts earlier statements of condemnation that the UK has issued in support of Myanmar’s transition to democracy. I appeal to you to refuse any form of recognition of the military attaché as the legal government of Myanmar. As the SAC is an illegal government you do not need to accept their disposal of Ambassador Kyaw Zwar Minn.

9.      Humanitarian aid is urgently needed in Myanmar. Prices of basic necessities continue to rise as the banking system collapses[9].   COVID-19 global pandemic is not currently being monitored in Myanmar. Nor do the majority of civilians have access to healthcare. Civil servants have joined the ongoing nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).[10] The proposal for the UK to cut aid at this time is undefendable.[11]

Yours sincerely,

Ms Ruth Stevens

May 2021