The Situation of IDPs and Refugees in Myanmar/Burma

The most recent UNHCR Myanmar Emergency Regional Update indicated that since February 2021 the number of refugees and IDPs have continued to increase, with 39,000 people from Myanmar/Burma displaced to neighboring countries and 442,000 internally internally displaced from their homes within Myanmar/Burma. Given the displacement that existed prior to the military coup, there are now 980,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Myanmar/Burma in neighboring countries and 812,000 internally displaced. In the past month, intense fighting in the South-East in Kayah State has led to mass displacement of tens of thousands of people from their homes.  Over 3,000 people in Matupi Township, Chin State have been displaced due to fighting. There continue to be a shortages of food, medical supplies, fuel, and winter items for IDPs.

CAM confirmed with a Mizoram state government official that the number of Chin refugees fleeing Myanmar/Burma continues to increase due to continued fighting between the Burmese military and the Chin Defense Force (CDF). The Mizoram state government official also told CAM that the Mizoram state government has been issuing identity cards to Chin refugees in Mizoram.

Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Myanmar/Burma

In late February, the military regime deployed ground troops and launched air and artillery strikes against the Karenni National Defense Force in Kayah state, causing thousands of people to flee.

Approximately 2,000 military regime soldiers have defected from the military and many have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). A lieutenant colonel defected in late February is is one of the highest ranking officials to join the CDM.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) provides a daily report in regards to the coup. As of February 28, AAPP indicated there have been 1,585 killed, 12,417 arrested, and 1,973 arbitrarily detained since the military coup.

The Thantlang Displacement Affairs Committee informed CAM that the Burmese military based in Thantlang town, Chin State burned 93 buildings in Thantlang on February 25 and 8 buildings on February 27, 2022 totaling 101 buildings. Since September 9, 2021, the Burmese military has burned 1041 buildings which included 8 Christian churches and church-related properties and offices. This is the 26th time the military has set fire to buildings in Thantlang since the coup.  The entire population of Thantlang has fled to the Indo-Burma border areas and many have crossed the international border areas seeking refuge in the Mizoram State, India. As of the date of this newsletter, the military has not allowed the UN agencies including UNHCR to travel to Hakha, capital of Chin State, to deliver humanitarian assistance to the displaced persons there.

Churches burnt down included the Thantlang Assemblies of God, the United Pentecostal Church, The Gospel Baptist Church, The Methodist Church, Holiness Church, The Thantlang Centenary Baptist Church, the Thantlang Presbyterian Church, and Church on the Rock.

CAM issued a statement condemning the violence, urging the U.S. government, international communities, and the UN Security Council to put more pressure on the Burmese military.

One year after the military coup in Myanmar/Burma, President Joe Biden condemned the brutal acts of violence committed by the military against civilians and the “immense suffering across Burma.” “We condemn these outrages and we are working closely with our partners and allies, including in ASEAN, to hold accountable all those responsible for the coup and attacks on civilians.” The President reiterated US support for the people of Myanmar/Burma and their fight for democracy and the US commitment to imposing further costs on the military.

On February 2, 2022, members of the UN Secretary Council repeated their call for support to a transition to democracy in Myanmar/Burma, for a release of those arbitrarily detained, and reiterated their full support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) role in facilitating a peaceful solution in the interest of the people of Myanmar and their livelihoods. They expressed deep concern for the humanitarian needs and the large numbers of displacement.

On February 2, 2022, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a panel discussion of experts including State Department Counselor Derek Chollet who serves as undersecretary and senior policy advisor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  He spoke to the military regime’s gross mismanagement of the country and the dire need for aid. He also reiterated US support for the people of Myanmar/Burma and a path for inclusive democracy. He also laid out the four pillars of the US approach including 1) putting pressure on the regime, 2) supporting the civilian democratic opposition, 3) to ease the humanitarian suffering of the Burmese people, and 4) to work alongside allies and partners in this work.  He also discussed US financial support: “So, fourth and finally, we are prioritizing the delivery of assistance to the people of Burma. Since the coup last year, the United States has provided nearly half a billion dollars in aid to vulnerable communities inside Burma, and to those who have fled Burma seeking refuge in other countries. This includes over $24 million in COVID-19 assistance. We’re also working closely with other countries and international partners to provide additional support and ensure access so that assistance reaches people in need without bolstering the regime.”

On February 17, the House Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation held a meeting on the Burma Crisis, One Year After the Coup and included witnesses Craig Hard, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for East Asia and the Pacific at USAID and Kin Moy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, US Department of State. Mr. Hard, in his testimony indicated, “The regime’s actions in part led the World Bank to conclude that the country’s economy contracted by more than 18 percent in 2021, with the UN estimating that the number of people living in poverty could double in 2022, from approximately 25 percent of the population to nearly half of it—or, as many as 27 million people.” Mr. Moy in his testimony stated that in FY2021, “the U.S. government provided more than $434 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by ongoing violence, including those internally displaced in Burma, refugees from Burma in the region, and communities hosting refugees from Burma.”

The International Court of Justice (IJC) began proceedings on February 21, 2022 to hear the case brought by Gambia against Myanmar alleging that the military’s atrocities against Rohingya Muslims violate the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The case underscores the importance of bringing to justice the military’s violence against the Rohingya and breaking the cycle of violence from the military without impunity. The National Unity Government’s Aung San Suu Kyi led the delegation in 2019. However, due to her detainment, the military junta announced it will appoint eight senior representatives to represent Myanmar/Burma’s delegation at the IJC.
The case record can be found here. 

On February 21, 2022, the National Unity Government issued a press statement to the IJC stating their legitimacy as the government of Myanmar/Burma, elected by the people, and requested that they take the military’s place at the hearings at the IJC. They requested to name Ambassador to the United Nations, HE U Kyaw Moe Tun, as Agent for the Court, in place of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains unjustly detained by the military.

On February 23, 2022, the military junta demanded the IJC drop the case citing that “Gambia was acting as a proxy for others and had no legal standing to file a case.” Gambia responded by urging the IJC to reject Myanmar’s request and to hold Myanmar accountable for genocide.

The ASEAN leaders still agree on the 5-point consensus reached regarding the situation in Myanmar/Burma, including:

1. There  shall  be  immediate  cessation  of  violence  in  Myanmar and  all  parties  shall  exercise  utmost  restraint.
2. Constructive  dialogue  among  all  parties  concerned  shall commence  to  seek  a  peaceful  solution  in  the  interests  of  the  people.
3. A special  envoy  of  the  ASEAN  Chair  shall  facilitate  mediation of  the  dialogue  process,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Secretary General  of  ASEAN.
4. ASEAN  shall  provide  humanitarian  assistance  through  the AHA  Centre.
5. The  special  envoy  and  delegation  shall  visit  Myanmar  to  meet with  all  parties  concerned.

In February, USAID released the Burma and Bangladesh – Regional Crisis Response Fact Sheet indicating that the UN indicated their 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Myanmar/Burma requires $826 million to target 6.2 million people for humanitarian assistance. This would meet the urgent needs of those internally displaced including essential commodities and humanitarian assistance (i.e., food, water, shelter, winter supplies, medical care, etc.) as well as medical needs related to COVID-19. USAID also noted the challenges in delivering humanitarian assistance including COVID-19-related movement regulations, travel authorization requirements, barriers erected by military authorities, and ongoing insecurity due to active violence.

Please support the BURMA Act of 2021 by becoming a co-sponsor to the bill. This would help restore the democratically elected government of Burma. It would establish an inclusive political dialogue in Burma, which would be a step toward establishing a federal democratic union.

Please also consider the following amendments to make the Burma Act of 2021 more relevant to the current situation on the ground in Burma:

1- Establish A Federal Democratic Union of Burma
It is important that the Act mention “federal democratic union,” not just democracy. The political crisis in the union of Burma is not only about promoting democracy or human rights. For over a half a century, the Burmese military regimes have been persecuting the ethnic nationalities and the religious minorities. Resolving the political crisis in Burma is about respecting minority rights and autonomy. That is what the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have been fighting for all these years. A “federal democratic union” would help ensure those rights are safeguarded. NUG’s duties include “establishing a federal democratic union” (see building a federal democratic union” under the Duties of NUG ( https://gov.nugmyanmar.org/about-nug/).

It is important that the bill restores civilian governance and ensures strong oversight over the military, but it should also mention the importance of establishing a federal democratic union that safeguards full autonomy for the internal administration of states or regions.

2- Abolish the 2008 Constitution
The Act should clearly mention abolishing the 2008 Constitution rather than reforming it (see NUG’s duties to abolish the 2008 Constitution). The ethnic political organizations and ethnic armed organizations have the same goal to abolish it.

3- Do Not Advocate for a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement
The Act should also not advocate for the implementation of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). It ceased being a just and viable instrument for maintaining peace when the military illegally took power on February 1, 2021. If included in the Act, many ethnic political organizations and ethnic armed organizations will strongly oppose it. The Act should instead advocate an inclusive peace process that would lead to establishing a federal democratic union.

4- Include engagement with Malaysia and India
Both Malaysia and India should be included in the bill because they both have a large stake in the return of refugees. According to UNHCR in Malaysia, there are 154,860 refugees from Burma, of which 102,990 are Rohingyas (https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance-in-malaysia.html, CAM’s Report, September 2020: https://chinmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Chin-Refugees-Final-Oct-8-2020.pdf).  According to the Mizoram State government, since February 1, an estimated 20,000 Chins have fled to Mizoram seeking refuge. New Delhi has about 3,000 refugees. Besides hosting a large number of refugees Malaysia is an influential political and economic nation in the region. India likewise is very influential, as a Quad member, and the world’s largest democracy. Both countries can and should play a big role to put pressure on the military regime in Burma to change its behavior.

5- Provide Karenni State and Mon State with humanitarian assistance
The Act should provide Karenni State (also known as Kayah State) and Mon State  with access to humanitarian assistance from UN Agencies and the international community. After the February coup, Karennis have been severely targeted by the military, creating over 82,000 new internally displaced persons. Also, at least eight Catholic churches in Karenni State have been destroyed by the military.

To learn more ways to advocate with CAM, click here.

In 2020 and 2021, CAM produced three reports: After the 2021 Military Coup in Myanmar/Burma: Challenges for Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees; Unsafe: Chins Seeking Refuge in Malaysia; and New Delhi, India; and Unprotected: Chin IDPs in IDPs in Chin and Rakhine States, Myanmar/Burma. CAM continues to advocate that the crimes against the Chin people in Myanmar/Burma are crimes against humanity and should be brought to the IJC and the ICC.

About CAM

The Chin Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAM) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based in Ellicott City, Maryland.  CAM empowers the Chin communities in Maryland to be successfully integrated into American society. CAM also advocates for durable solutions for Chin and other refugees and internally displaced persons, and religious freedom and human rights in Burma.

Chins, virtually all of whom are Christians, are an ethnic nationality from Burma. They became Christians primarily due to the missionary efforts of the American Baptist Churches USA. They are a major recent U.S. refugee group that fled from Burma to neighboring countries to escape ethnic, political and religious persecution by the Burmese military since 1962. In 2001, about 1000 Chin asylees came to the U.S through Guam, resettling largely in Maryland, Indiana, Florida, and Texas. Since 2002, the U.S. has resettled many more Chin refugees coming through Malaysia and India. Chins now number 70,000 across the United States, with about 5,000 making Maryland their home.