[MYANMAR] STATEMENT OF 34 VILLAGES FROM BU THO AND LU THAW TOWNSHIP-MUTRAW-KAWTHOOLEI
March 2, 2021
APNED stands together with its members and friends from Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, a member of the Karen River Watch. We remain vigilant against the attacks towards our fellow environment defenders, and social movements for the environment, human rights, and indigenous peoples in Myanmar.
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Dear Leaders,
On behalf of communities from Bu Tho and Luthaw, Kawthoolei, Karen state, Karen River Watch would like to share their statement and voice to you. Please share your media network and help us to the amplifier to know the world community and leaders.
Karen River Watch
We, over 2,500 villagers from over 34 villages, protest against Burma Army occupying our land and demand the immediate withdrawal from our communities in Bu Tho and Lu Thaw Townships, Mu Traw District, Kaw Thoo Lei.
March 2, 2021: Today, over 2,500 villagers from over 34 villages in Bu Tho and Lu Thaw Townships, Mu Traw District, Kaw Thoo Lei are protesting against the Burma Army land and threatening our lives and peaceful existence. We demand that the Burma Army immediately withdraws from our territory.
We live in the Salween Peace Park, where we practice self-determination, and we declare that we are the legitimate political authority in our territory. We reject all centrally imposed systems, reject the Burmese military dictatorship and its imposed administrative system in our territory.
Our Salween Peace Park is a place for all living things to thrive and live freely and peacefully. The presence of armed soldiers is in opposition to our values of peaceful co-existence. We demand the Burmese military regime to stop attacking civilians and leave our land immediately.
We have been suffering countless abuses at the hands of the Burma Army for over 70 years, and these need to end now. The Burmese military regime must be held accountable for the crimes that have been committed by their state-backed Army. The international community cannot ignore what is happening in Burma today as violence becomes increasingly worse every day. They must take action against the regime, hold the military accountable for the crimes they have committed, and continue to uphold peace and justice in Burma. As custodians of our ancestral territories, we must protect our environment and keep it free from outside interference that threatens to damage our inhabitants.
We strongly condemn the military coup and condemn the violent and brutal crackdowns on peaceful protesters. We express our solidarity and support with all the protesters rising up against the military dictatorship. We will continue to fight for our rights until we achieve the establishment of a genuine democratic federal union with ethnic equality and self-determination. We want our fellow citizens in Burma, as well as the international community, to hear our voices and support us in our struggle.
Contact persons (Karen and Burmese):
Naw Then Nay and Saw Paw Leh Ka Li Lah
+6689 266 8573