I would like to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to address the Myanmar community here in Tulsa. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank you all for making this event possible, and thank you for your generosity, your contributions to the democratic cause, and for all you have done to ease the suffering of our country.

As I address you today I am saddened that I cannot be with you, but I can take comfort knowing, and seeing, that although we are separated by a great distance, we are still together. Although we are all the product of hundreds of thousands of personal stories of struggle, of loss, of fear, of resilience, of determination, and of success; though we have all lived different experiences, and all have our own unique stories to share, we stand here today, united by a shared identity and purpose.

I am particularly proud, as a Chin, that this event was organized by the Zomi Chin community. I recall that when the Central Powers tried to take over Europe in 1914, over 1,000 Zomi went to France to help defend her in her time of need. Indeed, let us not forget that the same ethnic minorities today being relentlessly attacked by the military made up the bulk of the Myanmar units sent to the so-called Great War. It was the view of the British that we are “Martial Races”, fixated on war, and itching for a fight. I reject this primitive mischaracterization of our peoples, this simplistic colonialist reduction of our complex cultures and heritages into gross stereotypes, but let it never be forgotten that when freedom is at risk, when the defenseless must be defended, we do what is needed to defeat the forces of evil. The bodies of many of our brothers and sisters have lain in the battlefields of Europe for a century, silently attesting to this fact.

I wish that I could meet with you all in person, but sadly, circumstances will not let me. As you know, the military have been waging a war of terror and horror. A war, not against an enemy, but the very people they are sworn to protect. The lion’s share of the military’s unfathomable cruelty has fallen on the ethnic minorities of the border regions. The Kachin, the Shan, the Karen, and of course, the Chin. You will have seen in the media over these past weeks the worsening situation in Chinland. The bombardments, the arson, the murders, the terror attacks. 

As horrendous as these vile crimes against civilians are, they represent but a small part of the military’s true evil. In ten months, they have not let up their vicious assaults against our people. They have done everything in their power to hide the scale of their crimes by removing and destroying the bodies of our dead, or staging fake accidents. Despite this, we know of over 1,300 civilians who were murdered, in cold blood, by the foot soldiers of this bloodthirsty regime. So great is their depravity that among the dead we count 92 children, some as young as 3. There is no military on Earth, where such killing does not warrant the highest penalty. And yet, the litany of the junta’s crimes does not end here. They fight not only with bullets, but with starvation, exposure, poverty, and disease. As a result of their destruction of civilian villages, 1.2M of our people are now homeless. Over 2% of the entire country has no shelter but what they can find in the forest, the jungle, the mountain, and the valley. 6.4 million people, every ninth person in the country, are now 

starving. They will soon be joined by a full half of the country who have now been forced into extreme poverty. Under the junta, COVID-19 was allowed, indeed, was encouraged, to grow and spread to crush the spirit and capabilities of the people. In Yangon alone at the height of the pandemic 3000, 4000, even 5000 people died per day. To hide the death toll, the military did what they do best – hid the bodies, by piling them into trash incinerators. No chance to ever receive proper burial rites, and no chance for the grieving families to say goodbye. 

On every continent of the world, thousands upon thousands still live, haunted by the memories of dictatorship. While these acts of wanton destruction and torment are horrendous, they are not unique or original. Despots, warlords, and strongmen have brutalized, enslaved, and exterminated their own people for decades, from South America, to Africa, to Europe, to Asia, to the Middle East. The world has seen these horrors before. The West has seen these crimes before. There is no excuse for inaction. Following every major episode of crimes against humanity, the world bands together and vows never to let it happen again, and yet, today in 2021, in the middle of the greatest extermination in Myanmar’s history, it is not yet illegal to sell arms to the junta. The fact that the military’s crimes against humanity have been allowed to go unchecked for so long is unthinkable and unforgivable. The fact that more is not being done by the international community to put an end to the suffering of innocent civilians beggars belief.

The East and the West are often more closely connected than we like to think. It may not have been of our own choosing, but in the past we shed blood fighting alongside Western forces. Today we see western influences, fashion, music, art, language, and style on the streets of Yangon, Hahka, Myitkyina, Taungyi. For many of our people, fleeing the terror of the military, the West has given shelter, and a home, and we, in turn, have given the West our hard work, our wisdom, our sacrifices. We have enriched the West with our culture and contributions, as Western culture has enriched us. And today, to forge a better future, we need the West to take action in our time of need, as our ancestors did for the West over 100 years ago.

We did not choose this fight – that choice was taken from us. The military have taken from us our homes, our lands, the very food we eat, our freedom, and our people. We must fight and we must win. But this fight is not only ours. We fight for a better tomorrow. A stable, prosperous, peaceful future for our children, and their children, and their children. We fight so that our descendants will never have to face our struggles. We also fight for the good of all people of all nations. We fight so that not only Myanmar, but all nations can enjoy peace and democracy. We fight to drive dictatorship from the world. We fight to uphold the values of democracy and cooperation in Myanmar and everywhere. Everyone in every nation has a stake in this conflict. This is why we must win.

But we are set back every time the junta receives arms, ammunition, fuel, and funds from foreign governments and companies. Whenever relief aid that the people sorely need is handed over to the military, our people’s suffering is multiplied. I humbly ask all nations, people, and organizations – if you truly care about freedom and democracy, if you truly care about innocent civilians, if you truly care about the rise of despotism, to make a commitment to cut support for the Myanmar military. This means refusing military-backed representatives, ambassadors, envoys, and politicians. Cut all recognition and legitimacy from the military. Refuse to meet with generals. Do not allow yourselves to become props in their propaganda. If you truly want to hear the voices of the Myanmar people, recognize the NUG as the legitimate government and due representative body. Resolve not to sell 

the military any materiel necessary for prosecuting a war. This includes arms, ammunition, combat vehicles, and diesel fuel. Pledge to cut off financial support for the military. Stop corporations from doing business with the military or military owned enterprises. Most crucially, refuse to invest in or buy Myanmar natural gas as this is the military’s biggest source of revenue. Blacklist known intermediaries and shell corporations who launder and hide the military’s dealings. Freeze the assets of military personnel and all military-owned businesses. And finally, and perhaps more importantly, do not allow any aid or donation to pass into military hands. Be warned that the military does and will keep any aid for themselves be it food, funds, or medicine including, critically, COVID-19 vaccinations. For the good of the innocent people of Myanmar, languishing under the military boot heel, I must implore you only to send aid through the NUG or through trustworthy 3rd party NGO’s.

We are winning this fight. The military’s days are numbered, but every source of revenue, arms, legitimacy, and aid allows them to continue their war against the people. Victory cannot bring back those we have lost, and it is critical that we win this fight as soon as possible, and with as few deaths as possible. To this end, I ask for the help of the international community. Once the generals have been defeated, we will begin a new chapter. We will build a glorious nation, the Federal Democratic Union of Myanmar, built on the principles of federal democracy, and a constitution written for the good of all people, to defend our values and our freedoms. We will build a nation where all tribes, all languages, all cultures, and all identities will flourish. A nation who looks out onto the world and doesn’t withdraw into isolation. A true global partner and valuable force for good. I hope that we can build this future for ourselves one day very soon. I hope that all my brothers and sisters will be alive to see this future dawn on Myanmar. But for this dream to become a reality, we need the cooperation and understanding of the international community. So once again, I urge all people of all nations, reject the military, reject oppression, suppression, and repression. Stand for the people of Myanmar.

Our future awaits. We must win. We will win. May god bless you all, and may god bless the Federal Democratic Union of Myanmar.

Sincerely,

H.E. Dr. Sasa
Union Minister of Ministry of International Cooperation
Spoke Person of Nation Unity Government
Former Special Envoy to United Nations