It is with a heavy heart today that I must address my brothers, comrades, and all those who yearn for freedom and democracy. My words cannot express the pride I feel in the work we have all done to bring democracy to our home, and bring freedom to our people. In this fight we cannot flag, we cannot falter, and we can never fail. This fight is a worthy fight, it is an honourable fight, and it is a righteous fight because it is the fight for the people. The people whom we must defend, whom we must protect, whom we must save from the brutality and savagery of the military.

Our brave supporters have pushed back the military’s war machine. We have shown the military that we are able to defeat them on their own terms, in battle, but also that we are committed to all peaceful options, and will take any opportunity to spare life – even the lives of the military’s foot soldiers if we can. I, the NUG, and all the freedom loving people of Myanmar abhor killing. It is something we turn to only as the final resort. This is what separates us from the military junta. They kill to feel powerful. They kill because they can. If we kill, it is only because we have no other choice. Those who take up arms must do so only in self defence, or to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

In the customs and laws of war, civilians are sacrosanct. Their death and suffering is to be avoided above all other priorities. It is for them that we fight. The horrors and chaos of war are such that, with the deepest regret and sorrow, we will not be able to save every innocent. This weighs heavily on our hearts, but the military dictatorship has forced a war of aggression on us, and we no longer have any choice but to defend ourselves and save whom we can.

However, I must reiterate now that our purpose is to save Myanmar and her people. To knowingly turn weapons on civilians is intolerable. To willfully subject civilians to the ravages of war is unacceptable. Torturing, killing, or taking civilians hostage are war crimes and crimes against humanity. My brothers, let us never forget what it is that we are fighting against. We do not fight only a military, or a uniform, or a flag. Our enemy is not only the terrorists of the military junta but terrorism itself. We fight not only to topple this dictator, but all dictatorship. How can we hope to govern with the legitimate support and respect of the people if we do not do everything in our power to protect those people? In brief, we cannot win the war if we become the very thing we are fighting. We cannot defeat terrorism if we ourselves use terrorism to win.

The NUG cannot, will not, and must not tolerate any crimes of this nature. Once victory has been achieved, there will be a reckoning. All individuals, without exception, who have engaged in war crimes or crimes against humanity will be investigated, tried, and sentenced according to the law. This is justice. This is the rule of law. This is what we are fighting for. Let every man act according to his conscience, and let every man be judged his actions alone. No-one can be lawfully compelled or commanded to commit war crimes. It is the duty of all of our brave fighters to reject and report such offenses. In the new democratic Myanmar, no-one will be above the law, and no-one will be without the protection of the law. We chant – we must win, but it is not enough that we win the battle, we must win the greater moral war.

Thank you and Sincerely,

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