As a concerned citizen of the United States, I came to this country as a refugee. I continue to fear for the Karen people and ethnic minorities in Burma. I’m writing this letter with a sincere heart regarding the current attacks by the Burma Army against civilians in Karen State, Burma (also known as Myanmar).

Since early December 2020 the Burma Army has been deliberately firing artillery shells into civilian areas, breaking the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). The attacks against civilians are taking place in Mutraw (Papun) and Kler Lwe Htoo (Nyaungle bin) districts of northern Karen State. According to the Karen Women’s Organization letter on January 20, 2021, “Karen civilians are being killed and injured and being forced to flee so the Burmese military can build a road.” 

Over 4,000 people are now hiding in the jungle without food and shelter as a direct result of mortar shelling and increased militarization by the Burma Army, "the death of a village chief, the serious injury of an 11-year old boy and the injury of a villager tending to his livestock who was struck in the head and thighs by heavy mortars amid clashes (Karen Women’s Organization, 2021)." Humanitarian assistance has been restricted and relief groups now unable to reach them with badly needed food, blankets, and medical supplies. Also, Over 170 social and civil society groups on January 20, 2021 sent letters to Myanmar’s President Win Myint and the country’s state counselor and de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi appealing for help to end the armed conflict in Karen state.

The United States has been silent about these attacks, despite being major donors to the Joint Peace Fund, which is supposed to support the peace process in Burma. The US media has also been silent.     

Furthermore, “Since 2012, the United States has provided nearly $1.5 billion to support Burma’s democratic transition and economic transformation, advance the peace process, and improve the lives of millions, including by assisting communities affected by violence and through combating hate speech and communal violence” (U.S Relations With Burma, 2020).  

I’m urging the US government to pressure the Myanmar Government and Military in the following. 

• Suspend fund such as Joint Peace Fund for the process until the Burma Army Stop violating the terms of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement 
• Urgently for the Burma Army to immediately end these attacks and and pull back their troops from Karen territories, so that inclusive peace negotiations can begin 
• Encourage International donors to suspend all funding for the ‘peace process’ until the Burma Army ends their attacks throughout the country and begins withdrawing troops from the contested ethnic areas 

How you can help: 

Please email or call your U.S. representative.  

Call the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative's office.

• When you reach your representative's office, ask to be connected to the staffer responsible for foreign policy. (Before being connected, ask for the spelling of the staffer's name and their email address.)
• Leave your name, number, and city of residence to indicate that you live in the representative's district.
• Follow up with an email to the staffer. (The staffer's email will follow this format: "[first name].[last name]@mail.house.gov".)
• Find your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative#:~:text=If%20you%20know%20who%20your,the%20U.S.%20House%20switchboard%20operator
• If you do not live in the United States, please share this action with your American friends.

And share this action widely with your friends and family

You may also donate to the following organizations and websites: 

Some people asking where to donate. I also created a donation page on paypal. https://paypal.me/pools/c/8wpZ31YD86

https://phanfoundation.org/appeal-for-idps/?fbclid=IwAR3_G36z3GkhBF2cSU0l8bDBfneL9bSmWli5e42-uDhRkmAQWhqugnLjVYw

You may contact the Karen Organization of America. https://www.karenamerica.org/

Contact: Saw Nay Htoo 651-529-5066

 

Events: 

Karen Organization of America Hosting “ a rally to condemn Burma Army’s attacks on Karen villagers in Northern Karen State, Burma. 

Date: February 6, 2021 at 11am 

Location: Burma Embassy, Washington DC

Contact: Karen Organization of America 

Poe Eh (402-739-2934), greh Moo (252-571-7634), Kler Eh Soe (315-316-7722): 

Email: karenorgamerica@gmail.com