Student Unions’ Statement to Urge Stronger and Immediate International Action

Students and student unions have historically been at the forefront of the struggle against illegitimate rule and oppression in Burma – from Burma’s independence movement, to the 1962 protests against Ne Win’s coup d’état, the U Thant funeral uprising, the 1988 uprising, the 1996 protests, and 2007 Saffron revolution, to today’s Spring Revolution, thousands of students have given their lives for the country’s freedom. As we write this statement, many of our fellow student leaders remain in jail, some facing extreme torture in the interrogation centers. 

Since the illegal military coup on Feb 1, Burma has been in deep political turmoil. As the military cracked down on peaceful demonstrations, over 920 people have been killed nationwide, with thousands detained and tortured. Additionally, hundreds of thousands in the ethnic areas have been displaced due to artillery attacks and air strikes. 

To make matters worse, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the crisis, affecting millions that are already vulnerable from the violence of the coup. Hundreds, potentially thousands, of people are dying every day as the virus ravages the country. Meanwhile, the junta – in addition to upending the pandemic control efforts and vaccine rollout plans by the previous civilian government – has been cutting off critical lifesaving resources for the people. It has militarized hospitals and healthcare facilities and continues to threaten, arrest, and kill frontline doctors and nurses, making it impossible for the healthcare sector to function adequately. The junta is also shutting down oxygen plants and hoarding oxygen for their own use, while the civilians face an oxygen shortage, failing to save their loved ones.

The brutality of the Burmese military is outrageous and beyond comparison. Yet, for far too long, the international community has allowed them to enjoy impunity, even as they continue to commit mass atrocities against their own people. Many statements of “deep concern” released from various international entities not only are unsupportive but even undermine our struggles that many of our friends have sacrificed their lives for.

For decades, the people of Burma have been conveying their message loud and clear that the military has no support in the country. We have written our revolution with blood and bones that the military can never, ever rule us. It is about time the international community must start listening. 

Hence, we, the undersigned Student Unions, urge for immediate and strong international action and demand the following:

• Impose a global arms embargo on the military junta since restricting arms flows to the military is critical in ending their impunity.  
• Recognize and support the National Unity Government (NUG), including keeping Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun as the legitimate representative of Myanmar at the UN General Assembly in September.
• Immediately dispatch humanitarian aid and COVID-19 relief to Myanmar, channelled through cross-border mechanisms, international organisations, local CSOs, the NUG, and the Ethnic Health Organisations.
• Pressure the ASEAN and neighbouring countries to take similar steps instead of relying on them to take actions on their own against the junta; ASEAN’s five-point consensus has proven to be weak and futile, and thus, the larger international community needs to step up with stronger, more vigorous measures. 
• Sanction the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise to deplete the military of a sizable portion of its revenues, which the military has allegedly been using to procure arms and military equipment.

Signatures

1. Yangon

1. Dagon University Students’ Union
2. East Yangon University Students’ Union
3. Yangon University Of Foreign Languages Students’ Union
4. Yangon University of Economics Students’ Union-Ywar Thar Gyi
5. Yangon University of Economics Students’ Union – Hlaing Campus
6. Yangon Technological University Students’ Union (YTUSU)
7. Thanlyin Technological University Students’ Union
8. West Yangon Technological University Students’ Union
9. Technological University (Hmawbi) Students’ Union
10. University of Computer Studies, Yangon Students’ Union
11. University of Information Technology Students’ Union
12. Myanmar Maritime University Students’ Union
13. Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University Students’ Union
14. Government Technical Institute (Insein) Students’ Union
15. Government Technical Institute (Shwe Pyi Thar) Students’ Union
16. Singapore Myanmar Vocational Training Institute Students’ Union
17. University of Medicine(1) Students’ Union
18. Nursing Related Field Practice Training School Students’ Union (NRFPTSSU)
19. North Okkalapa Nursing Training School Students’ Union (NONTSSU)
20. Central Midwifery Training School Students’ Union (CMTSSU)
21. East Yangon Nursing Training School Students’ Union (EYNTSSU)
22. Thanlyin Midwifery Training School Students’ Union (TMTSSU)
23. Yangon Nursing Training School Students’ Union (YNTSSU)

2. Mandalay

1. University of Mandalay Students’ Union
2. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
3. Mandalar University Students’ Union
4. Mandalay University of Foreign Languages Students’ Union
5. Mandalay Technological University Students’ Union
6. Technological University (Mandalay) Students’ Union
7. University of Technology (Yatanarpon Cyber City) ​Students’ Union
8. National University of Arts and Culture (Mandalay) Students’ Union
9. University of Dental Medicine Mandalay Students’ Union
10. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students Union
11. University of Computer Studies, Mandalay Students’ Union
12. University of Computer Studies (Mandalay) Students’ Union
13. Mandalay Private Universities Students’ Union
14. Pyin Oo Lwin Nursing Training School Students’ Union
15. Nursing Training School Mandalay Students’ Union
16. Technological University (Meiktila) Students’ Union
17. Meiktila University of Economics Students’ Union
18. Nursing Training School Meiktila Students’ Union
19. Midwifery Training School Mandalay Students’ Union
20. University of Computer Studies Meiktila Students’ Union
21. Technical Institute Pyin Oo Lwin – Students’ Union

3. Bago

1. Bago University Students’ Union
2. Taungoo University Students’ Union
3. Pyay University Students’ Union
4. Taungoo Technological University
   Students’ Union
5. Pyay Technological University Students’ Union
6. University of Computer Studies,Taungoo Students’ Union
7. Studients’ Union of Computer University Pyay
8. Taungoo Education Degree College Students’ Union
9. Pyay Education Degree College Students’ Union
10. Pyay Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
11. Taungoo Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
12. Thayawady Agricultural Science Students’ Union
13. Pyay Basic Education Students’ Union
14. Bago Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
15. Taungoo Nursing Training School Students’ Union

4. Sagaing

1. Monywa University Students’ Union
2. Monywa University of Economics Students’ Union
3. Monywa Technology University Students’ Union
4. University of Computer Studies (Monywa) Students’ Union
5. Kalay University Students’ Union
6. Kalay Technological University Students’ Union
7. University of Computer Studies (Kalay) Students’ Union
8. Government Technological College (Shwebo) Students’ Union
9. Shwebo University Students’ Union (ABFSU)
10. Technological University (Sagaing) Students’ Union
11. Sagaing University Students’ Union
12. Co-operative University Sagaing Students’ Union
13. Sagaing University of Education Students’ Union (ABFSU)
14. Sagaing Education College Students Union (ABFSU)
15. Monywa Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
16. Kalay Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
17. Shwebo Nursing Training School Students’ Union

5. Mon

1. Mawlamyine University Students’ Union
2. Mawlamyine Government Technical Institute Students’ Union
3. Mawlamyine Technology University Students’ Union
4. Thaton Computer University Students’ Union

 6. Tanintharyi

1. Dawei University Students’ Union
2. Dawei University of Computer Students’ Union
3. Dawei Technological University
   Students’ Union
4. Dawei Nursing Training School Students’ Union
5. Myeik Technological University Students’ Union
6. University of Computer Studies(Myeik) Students’ Union
7. Myeik University Students’ Union
8. Agricultural Science – Dawei Students Union

7. Irrawaddy

1. Hinthada University Students’ Union (ABFSU)
   2 Maubin Technological University Students’ Union (ABFSU)
2. Maubin University Students’ Union
3. Government Technical Institute – Laputta Students’ Union (ABFSU)
4. Myaungmya Nursing Training School Students’ Union
5. Pathein Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union

8. Magway

1. University of Computer Studies,Magway Students’ Union
2. Yenangyaung University Students’ Union
3. Magway University Student Union
4. Chauk GTI Students’ Union
5. Magway GTI Student’s Union
   6.Magway Technological University
   Students’ Union
6. Magway Education Degree College Students’ Union
7. Magway Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
8. Pakokku Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
9. University of Computer
   Studies(Pakokku) Students’ Union

9. Kayin

1. Technological University (Hpa-an) Students’ Union
2. Hpa-an University Students’ Union
3. University of Computer Studies (Hpa-an) Student Union
4. Hpa-an Education Degree College Students’ Union

10. Shan

1. Taunggyi University Students’ Union
2. Taunggyi Technological University Students’ Union
3. University of Computer Studies,Taunggyi Students’ Union
4. Taunggyi Basic Education Student’s Union (TBESU)
5. Taunggyi Education Degree College Students’ Union
6. Taunggyi Nursing Training School Students’ Union
7. Midwifery Training School Students’ Union-Taunggyi
8. Panglong University Students’ Union
9. University of Computer Studies PangLong Students’ Union
10. TU(PangLong) Students’ Union
11. Students’ Union Of Lashio University (TEM)
12. Lashio Technological University Students’ Union
13. Students’ Union Of The University Of Computer Studies Lashio
14. Lashio Education Degree College Students’ Union
15. Lashio Nursing and Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
16. Lashio Township Basic Education Students’ Union
17. Lashio Government Technical High School Students’ Union
18. Students’ Union of Technological University-KengTung
19. University of Computer Studies, Kyaing Tong Students’ Union
20. Students’ Union of Kyaing Tong University
21. Kyaing Tong Nursing & Midwifery Training School Students’ Union

11. Chin

1. Hakha University Students Union
2. Government Technical Institute (GTI) Hakha Students’ Union
3. Hakha Education College Students Union
4. Falam Nursing Training School Students’ Union
5. Hakha Midwifery Training School Students’ Union
6. Agricultural Science (Lungpi) Students’ Union

12. Kachin

1. Myitkyina University Student Union
2. University Of Computer Studies Myitkyina Students’ Union
3. Mawlamyine Technological University Students’ Union
4. Agricultural Science (Myitkyina) Students’ Union
5. Myitkyina Education Degree College Students’ Union
6. Myitkyina Nursing Training School Students’ Union
7. Midwifery Training School Myitkyina Student’s Union
8. Mohnyin University Students’ Union
9. Mohnyin Government Techonological College Students’ Union
10. Banmaw University Students’ Union
11. University of Computer Studies (Banmaw) Students’ Union
12. Banmaw Techonological University Students’ Union
13. Banmaw Nursing Training School Students’ Union (BNTSSU)

13. Kayah

1. Loikaw University, Students’ Union – LUSU
2. University of Computer Studies, Loikaw Students’ Union
3. Technological University Loikaw Students’ Union – TULSU
4. Loikaw Education Degree College Students’ Union
5. Loikaw Nursing Training School Student’s Union

14. Naypyitaw

1. University of Veterinary Science, Yezin Students’ Union
2. University of Forestry & The Enniroment, Yezin Students’ Union
3. Yezin Agricultural University Students’ Union
4. Agricultural Science (Pyinmana) Students’ Union (ABFSU)
5. Nay Pyi Taw Nursing Training School Student’s Union
6. Nay Pyi Taw Midwifery Training School Student’s Union

15. In the diaspora

1. Students for Free Burma, USA
2. Myanmar Students’ Union in UK and Éire
3. Burmese Students Association at University of California, Los Angeles
4. Burma Association at Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley
5. Burmese Student Association at University of Southern California
6. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Burmese Students Association
7. Burmese Student Association at the University of California Santa Barbara
8. University of California, Riverside Burmese Association
9. Myanmar Students’ Association, Australia
10. Queensland University of Technology Myanmar Students Society, Australia
11. Swinburne Burmese Students Association, Australia
12. Macquarie Myanmar Students Club
13. University of Sydney Myanmar Cultural Society
14. University of New South Wales Myanmar Student Society
15. Canberra Myanmar Students Society
16. Bay Area Young Myanmar (BYAM), USA
17. Myanmar Culture Club, Skyline College USA
18. Burmese Myanmar Associated Students @ San Jose State University
19. We are one (Oregon State University Burmese Students)

Download statement as pdf.