Like many of you, we were horrified to learn that our brother, hero and compatriot, Ko Jimmy, was brutalized and dragged off by the junta. Ko Jimmy is a friend and an honored leader of the Pro-Democracy movement and one of the few living leaders of the 8888 Movement against military dictatorship. As a result of the violent and brutal treatment the junta’s footsoldiers subjected Ko Jimmy to, he is now understood to be suffering the effects of serious head injuries and has been abducted to an unknown location. We are extremely concerned for his life and the lives of his family. 

This brutal and barbaric attack gives further proof to the fact that the junta must not be allowed to remain in power. The actions of the military are utterly unacceptable, but sadly, they commit such acts of violence on the streets of our country every day and every night. We demand justice and will settle for nothing less. We, the people’s representatives, the NUG, are putting the SAC on notice. As Ko Jimmy is in their custody, they are fully responsible for his health and welfare. We demand that Ko Jimmy be given all necessary medical care and support to see him fully recover from the junta’s barbaric and unjustified assault. 

We further demand the unconditional release of Ko Jimmy and others who are held in illegal detention. We further demand that the dignity and human rights of the unjustly detained be fully respected, including the prompt and adequate provision of medical care. Failure to provide access to medical care to those held in custody is a violation of international law. Although we know all too well that the junta does not care about Myanmar or the lives of the people of Myanmar, and care even less about international legal norms and expectations, we remind the junta that the world is watching, and the international community will not remain silent while a military dictatorship abuses and batters its own people in the vain hope of earning legitimacy. There are international mechanisms which can and will be brought to bear to punish the military junta for its flaunting of human rights, and flagrant commission of crimes against humanity.

We request that the international community, the governments of the world, civil societies and in particular ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar condemn this horrific act of brutality, demand access to Ko Jimmy and his unlawfully arrested compatriots to ascertain the true severity of their conditions, and verify the quality of their treatment, and further demand his unconditional release. Ko Jimmy is a respected and beloved Myanmar leader and all of Myanmar demand the unconditional release of all unjustly detained civilians, and demand to know that they are being well cared for until this time.

Sincerely,

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