"To: Members of Congress of the U.S Senate and House of Representatives: Subject: Joint Open Letter from Burmese diaspora, community based-organizations and Civil Society Organizations to the United State Congress to pass the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021 or BURMA Act of 2021 Dear Members of Congress, We, the undersigned 242 Burmese diaspora, local CSOs inside Burma, community-based organizations, and civil society organizations both here in the U.S. and around the world welcome the introduction of the Burma Unified through Rigorous Military Accountability Act of 2021, or, the BURMA Act, and call on all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to co-sponsor this crucial legislation and support its expeditious passage into law. As the situation in Burma worsens daily, U.S. action is vital to the millions of lives currently suffering at the hands of the Burmese military. The BURMA Act will provide much needed U.S. support for the realization of all Burmese peoples’ aspirations for an inclusive, rights respecting democracy. Since the February 1st coup, the people of Burma have seen increased human rights violations and militarization, and the situation is growing more dire by the day. While the number of people killed by the junta is significantly higher, there are over 1,100 confirmed deaths since February, including at least 75 children. More than 8,700 people have been arrested, of which an estimated 7,104 are still detained. 220,000 have been newly displaced, with 3 million in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. The World Bank predicts an 18% drop in GDP for Burma this year, which, combined with slower growth in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, will leave Burma’s economy 30% smaller than originally expected. The World Food Program estimates that food insecurity will have more than doubled since the coup by October 2021 to more than 6.2 million people. Despite the Burmese military junta campaign of oppression to terrorize and demoralize the people, they have not won. In each of Burma’s states, ethnic minorities are witnessing the worst of the Burmese military’s violence and crimes against humanity. While it is clear that Burma’s ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted by violence from the Burmese military, the country’s majority Burman group are also affected, representing the extent to which the junta’s attacks are indiscriminate and truly affect all in Burma. On September 7, the Burmese military used two farmers from Shan State as human shields to guard soldiers as they walked in front of a battalion. Similarly, in Karen state, reports of the Burmese military capturing and forcing women to be porters and human shields have been increasingly common. In early September, Kachin Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were forced to return to their villages after being unable to find food in the IDP camps, despite their homes remaining in a conflict zone. Karenni state suffered from 21 clashes in August that led to an additional 5,000 IDPs to the 100,000 displaced in the state, which makes up nearly half of the Karenni population. Reports from Mon state in early September highlight the intensified militarization in many of the state’s townships, where civilian arrests and security checkpoints have increased. In Rakhine state, close to 10,000 IDPs returned to their villages in fear of rising COVID-19 cases in IDP camps, despite the threat of landmines and zero humanitarian aid in their townships. An estimated 50,000 civilians and 5,000 IDPs living in southern Chin state are suffering from food shortages as the Burmese military blocks transportation routes into the area. From February to July, there were 3,601 attacks on civilians or armed clashes that failed to protect them, which is a 521% increase from the same months in 2020. These atrocities occurring throughout the country have been the lived experiences of marginalized communities for decades. Clearly, the situation in Burma necessitates U.S. action and will only continue to deteriorate the longer accountability and aid are delayed. In July, Burma was hit hard with a third-wave of the COVID-19 virus. While the junta officially reported an estimated 6,000 deaths and 141,000 infections, many civil society organizations in Burma believe these reports grossly underestimate the actual number of COVID-related deaths, especially as cemeteries in Yangon received 1,500-2,000 bodies every day in mid-July. As thousands were dying of COVID-19, the junta cut off medical and oxygen supplies to the people of Burma. Many accused the junta of denying oxygen to private clinics and hospitals, instead funneling the available oxygen to military-controlled health facilities. The junta also shut down any charity supplies and blocked all initiatives created by community and civil society organizations to battle COVID-19. In an aggressive approach to deny access to lifesaving oxygen, the military fired into a line of people waiting to purchase oxygen tanks. In another case, witnesses stated that the military also lured medical professionals by pretending to be COVID-19 patients, only to arrest them and raid their affiliated clinics. Even as the COVID vaccine was procured from China, the junta reportedly reserved the vaccine for its military and loyal allies before making it available to the public. However, it was also reported that due to the mistrust of the junta’s intentions and the vaccine from China, many avoided vaccinations. It is clear from the actions of the junta and its military that they are weaponizing the virus and vaccine. While COVID-19 numbers have decreased since August, the people of Burma are still battling the COVID crisis while fighting the illegal junta for democracy. Despite the violence perpetrated by the Burmese military, the Burmese people continue to stand resolutely against the junta’s rule. Since February, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) continues to be supported by over 400,000 civil servants without losing any steam. This movement started in central Burma and spread to major cities in the ethnic states. The people of Burma also launched themed protests, such as the hanging of sarongs, flashlights at night, and the clanging of pots and pans to display signs of dissidence. Members of the CDM also boycott military businesses and refuse to pay for military-controlled services like electricity bills, with estimates reporting that this loss of revenue will cost the junta up to $1 billion per year. The CDM has grown past the borders of Burma to gain international support. The Burmese diaspora in other countries, such as the United States, Australia, and the UK, have come together to protest against the February 1st Coup and rally their respective policymakers to make a public stand against the military junta. For more than six months, the protest movement has remained undeterred by the junta’s brutal crackdowns and arbitrary arrests. In addition to the CDM movement, civilians are joining the National Unity Government’s People’s Defense Force to provide safety and security that has been repeatedly denied by the Burmese military. Given the Burmese military’s unrelenting violence, it is clear that Congress must act now to support the people of Burma. The BURMA Act will showcase U.S. leadership in alleviating an increasingly dire situation and hold the Burmese military accountable for their illegal seizure of power. Justice and accountability are more important than ever, given the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya people - and the over one million Rohingya people who have been forced to flee their homeland over many decades and remain stuck in limbo in Bangladesh and other countries in the region with limited access to livelihoods or education and any chance to return home, integrate into their country of asylum, or be resettled to a third country. Checking the junta’s power would ensure that the crimes they continue to commit against the Rohingya, other ethnic and religious minorities, and all civilians come to an end. The bill will additionally support a strategy for the U.S. to coordinate policy on Burma multilaterally; provide support for civil society organizations, democracy activists, political prisoners and independent media; and authorize sanctions laser-focused against the military, its economic interests, and its primary sources of remaining revenues, while minimizing a humanitarian impact on the people of Burma. While we note and appreciate the action that the U.S. has taken for Burma so far, it is simply not enough. We thank Sen. Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Lujan (D-NM), Sen. Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Markey (D-MA), Sen. Murray (D-WA), Sen. Peters (D-MI), Sen. Padilla (D-CA), Sen. Sanders (D-VT), Sen. Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Kaine (D-VA), Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Steve Chabot (R) (co-lead), Rep. Michael McCaul (R), Rep. Ami Bera (D), Rep. Karen Bass (D), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R), Rep. Ted Lieu (D), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D), Rep. Young Kim (R), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D), Rep. Ro Khanna (D), Rep. Juan Vargas (D), Rep. Claudia Tenney (R), Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D), Rep. Lois Frankel (D), Rep. James P. McGovern (D), Rep. Grace Meng (D), Rep. Peter Meijer (R), Rep. Kathy Manning (D), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D) and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D) for introducing the BURMA Act, and call upon all members of Congress to stand in solidarity with the people of Burma and co-sponsor the BURMA Act of 2021 to end the junta’s campaign of violence and cycle of impunity. Sincerely, Signed by: Burmese diaspora, community based-organizations and Civil Society Organizations 1. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney), Australia 2. Action Committee for Democracy Development, Burma 3. Action Corps, USA 4. African Great Lakes Action Network, USA 5. All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress, Thailand-Burma Border 6. All Kachin Youth Union (AKYU), Burma 7. All Young Burmese League, Australia 8. ALTSEAN-Burma, Thailand 9. Ameinu, USA 10. American Baptist Churches USA 11. Americans for Rohingya, USA 12. Anti-Dictatorship in Burma DC Metropolitan Area, USA 13. Arakan Rohingya Union, USA 14. Arakan Watch, Malaysia 15. Arizona Kachin Community, AZ, USA 16. Asian Community and Cultural Center, USA 17. Asian Student Union, KS, USA 18. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters- HRDP, Myanmar 19. Australia Karen Organisation Inc, Australia 20. Backpack Health Workers Team, Thailand-Burma Border 21. Bakersfield Karen Community, CA, USA 22. Blood Money Campaign, Myanmar 23. Boston Free Burma, MA, USA 24. Burma Action Ireland, Ireland 25. Burma Border Projects, MA, USA 26. Burma Campaign UK, United Kingdom 27. Burma Medical Association, Thailand-Burma Border 28. Burma Nationals Organization, USA 29. Burma Task Force, USA 30. Burmese American Millennials, USA 31. Burmese American women Alliance, CA, USA 32. Burmese Community Center for Education, USA 33. Burmese Community Support Group, Australia 34. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, United Kingdom 35. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA), Canada 36. California Kachin Community, CA, USA 37. California Karen Youth Forum, USA 38. Campaign for a New Myanmar, USA 39. Citizen of Burma Award, USA 40. Coalition of Rohingya Organisations in Malaysia (CROM) 41. Congregation Neveh Shalom, OR, USA 42. Crane Center for Mass Atrocity Prevention, USA 43. Da'wah and Empowerment Association of Rohingya (DEAR), Malaysia 44. Dallas Fort Worth Myanmar Ethnic Community, Burma 45. Dallas Kachin Community, TX, USA 46. Darfur and Beyond, USA 47. DEEKU-Karenni Community of Amarillo, TX, USA 48. Democracy, Peace and Women's Organization, Burma 49. EarthRights International, USA 50. Edmonton Karen Community Youth Organization, Canada 51. European Karen Network, UK 52. First Karen Baptist Church of Indianapolis, IN, USA 53. Florida Kachin Community, FL, USA 54. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa), South Africa 55. Free Myanmar Inc., USA 56. Freedom for Burma, USA 57. Friends of Rohingya USA 58. Friends of TCI Australia, Australia 59. Future Light Center, Burma 60. Future Thanlwin, Burma 61. Gender Equality Network, Myanmar 62. Georgia Kachin Community, GA, USA 63. Global Justice Center, USA 64. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy (GM4MD), USA/Global 65. Good News Detroit Church, USA 66. Hanna United Methodist Church, IN, USA 67. Holocaust and Genocide Studies Project/Portland State University, OR, USA 68. Holy Family church, USA 69. Houston Kachin Community, TX, USA 70. Human Rights Foundation of Monland, Thailand/Myanmar 71. Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, IN, USA 72. Institute for Asian Democracy, USA 73. International Campaign for the Rohingya, USA 74. International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), USA 75. International Karen Organisation, Australia 76. Iowa Kachin Community, IA, USA 77. Jewish World Watch, USA 78. Justice for All, USA 79. Justice for Myanmar, Myanmar 80. Kachin American Community (Portland – Vancouver), USA 81. Kachin Community of Indiana, IN, USA 82. Kachin Community of USA 83. Kachin National Organization USA 84. Kachin Peace Network, Myanmar 85. Kachin Refugee Council – India 86. Kachin Women's Association Thailand 87. Kansas Karenni Community, KS, USA 88. Kansas Zotung Community, KS, USA 89. Karen American Association of Wisconsin, USA 90. Karen Association of Huron, South Dakota, USA 91. Karen Baptist Churches USA, USA 92. Karen Community of Akron, USA 93. Karen Community of Canada (KCC), Canada 94. Karen Community of Czech Republic 95. Karen Community of Finland 96. Karen Community of Hamilton, Canada 97. Karen Community of Iowa, USA 98. Karen Community of Ireland 99. Karen Community of Israel 100. Karen Community of Kansas City (KS & MO), USA 101. Karen Community of Kitchener & Waterloo, Canada 102. Karen Community of Leamington, Canada 103. Karen Community of Lethbridge, Canada 104. Karen Community of London, Canada 105. Karen Community of Minnesota, USA 106. Karen Community of North Carolina, USA 107. Karen Community of Ottawa, Canada 108. Karen Community of Regina, Canada 109. Karen Community of Saskatoon, Canada 110. Karen Community of South Carolina, USA 111. Karen Community of Thunderay, Canada 112. Karen Community of Toronto, Canada 113. Karen Community of Windsor, Canada 114. Karen Community of Winnipeg, Canada 115. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC), Canada 116. Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, Burma 117. Karen Human Rights Group, Thai-Burma border 118. Karen Organization of America, USA 119. Karen Organization of Minnesota, USA 120. Karen Organization of San Diego, USA 121. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN), Thailand/Burma 122. Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity, Thailand 123. Karen Society of Nebraska, USA 124. Karen Student Association at UNO, USA 125. Karen Swedish Community, Sweden 126. Karen Thai Group, Thailand 127. Karen Youth Education Pathways, USA 128. Karen Youth Networks, Burma 129. Karen Youth of Norway 130. Karen Youth of Toronto, Canada 131. Karen Youth Organization, Thailand 132. Karenni Civil Society Network, Thailand-Burma Border 133. Karenni Community of Arizona, AZ, USA 134. Karenni Community of Arkansas, AK, USA 135. Karenni Community of Austin, TX 136. Karenni Community of Bowling Green, KY 137. Karenni Community of Buffalo, NY 138. Karenni Community of Chicago, IL 139. Karenni Community of Colorado, CO 140. Karenni Community of Dallas, TX 141. Karenni community of Des Moines, IA 142. Karenni Community of Florida, FL, 143. Karenni Community of Fort Worth, TX 144. Karenni Community of Georgia, GA 145. Karenni Community of Houston, TX 146. Karenni Community of Idaho, ID 147. Karenni Community of Indianapolis, IN 148. Karenni community of Kansas City 149. Karenni Community of Massachusetts, MA 150. Karenni Community of Michigan, MI 151. Karenni community of Minnesota, MN 152. Karenni Community of Missouri, MO, USA 153. Karenni Community of North Carolina, NC, USA 154. Karenni Community of Portland, OR, USA 155. Karenni Community of Rockford, IL, USA 156. Karenni Community of San Antonio, TX, USA 157. Karenni Community of Sioux Falls, SD, USA 158. Karenni Community of Utah, UT, USA 159. Karenni Community of Utica, NY, USA 160. Karenni Community of Washington, WA, USA 161. Karenni Community of Wisconsin, WI, USA 162. Karenni Society of Omaha, NE, USA 163. Karenni-American Association, USA 164. Karenni-American Catholic Association, USA 165. Kentucky Kachin Community, KY, USA 166. Korea Karen Organization, Korea 167. Korea Karen Youth Organization, Korea 168. LAI Baptist Church of Maryland, USA 169. Like We Don’t Exist, USA 170. Louisiana Kachin Community, LA, USA 171. Lowell International Church, USA 172. Mae Tao Clinic, Thailand 173. Maryland Kachin Community, MD, USA 174. Metta Campaign, Myanmar 175. Michigan Kachin Community, MI, USA 176. Milwaukee Myanmar Christian Church, USA 177. Minnesota Kachin Community, MN, USA 178. Minnesota Peace Project, USA 179. Mon State Development Center, Myanmar 180. Myanmar Community Church, CA, USA 181. Myanmar Cultural Research Society (MCRS), Yangon 182. Nationalities' Alliance of Burma, Washington D. C., USA 183. ND-Burma, Canada 184. NeT Organization, Myanmar 185. Never Again Coalition, USA 186. New York Kachin Community, NY, USA 187. No Business With Genocide, USA 188. North Carolina Kachin Community, NC, USA 189. Nyan Lynn Thit Analhtica, Myanmar 190. Olive organization, Burma 191. Omaha Kachin Community, NE, USA 192. Oversea Karen Organization Japan, Japan 193. Overseas Burmese Christian Fellowship, USA 194. Pennsylvania Kachin Community, PA, USA 195. Progressive Voice, Thailand 196. Pyit Taing Htaung Social Club, Australia 197. Refugees International, USA 198. Rohingya American Society (RAS), WI, USA 199. Rohingya Arakanese Refugee Committee (RARC), USA 200. Rohingya Cultural Center of Chicago, IL, USA 201. Rohingya National League, USA 202. Rohingya Society of Greater Nashua, NH, USA 203. Rohingya students Unity Right, Bangladesh 204. Rohingya Women Empowerment and Advocacy Network, Bangladesh 205. Rohingya Youth Development Forum, Burma 206. Rohingya Youths for legal Action (RYLA), Bangladesh 207. RW Welfare Society, Bangladesh 208. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas, Burma 209. Saydanar Community Development Center, MA, USA 210. Shan MATA, Myanmar 211. South Carolina Kachin Community, SC, USA 212. St. Puis X Catholic Church, USA 213. STAND: The student-led movement to end mass atrocities, USA 214. Students for Free Burma (SFB), USA 215. Support the Democracy Movement in Burma, USA 216. Ta'ang Legal Aid, Burma 217. Ta'ang Students and Youth Union - TSYU, Myanmar 218. Temple Adath Israel --Lexington, KY, USA 219. Tennessee Kachin Community, TN, USA 220. The Burmese Rohingya Association of North America, USA 221. The PLAN: Public Legal Aid Network, Myanmar 222. The Sound of Hope, USA 223. The Urban Village, USA 224. U.S. Advocacy Coalition for Myanmar, USA 225. U.S. Campaign for Burma, USA 226. Unitarian Universalist Association, USA 227. Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), USA 228. University of Hartford Philosophy Club, USA 229. US Chin Coalition, USA 230. Utica Karen Community, USA 231. Utica Karen Wesleyan Church, USA 232. Virginia Kachin Community, VA, USA 233. Washington Kachin Community, WA, USA 234. West Virginia Kachin Community, WV, USA 235. Women Advocacy Coalition, Myanmar 236. Women Empowerment and Advocacy Network, Bangladesh 237. Women's Peace Network, USA 238. World Outside My Shoes, USA 239. World Rohingya Organization, Jackson Heights, NY, USA 240. Youths of Tomorrow, Myanmar 241. Zion Karen Baptist Church of Albert Lea, MN, USA 242. Zotung organization of America, USA..." ‍