Address to the Congressional Briefing on “Escalating Human Rights and Religious Freedom Violations in Burma”
by
Acting President Duwa Lashi La
National Unity Government of Myanmar
Dear Senators, distinguished guests, speakers and participants
Firstly, I would like to thank you for receiving an opportunity to address the Congressional Briefing on Escalating human rights and religious freedom violations in Myanmar/Burma.
Second, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Senator Chris Van Hollen and Senator Todd Young for supporting this important congressional briefing. You have been very supportive of our people’s struggle for freedom, democracy, and human rights.
Thirdly, I also want to thank the Chin Association of Maryland, the American Baptist Churches USA, all sponsors and participants.
Religious Freedom is a fundamental human right for all human beings. Unfortunately, the people of Myanmar – especially religious minorities in Myanmar such as Christians, Hindus, and Muslims – have lost this very basic human right for several decades under successive military regimes. I know it personally, as a Kahin ethnic and a Christian.
The majority of Buddhists were not spared either. Successive military regimes have brutally repressed the Buddhists and the monks who do not share the political stands and goals of the military dictators.
It’s been getting worse since February 2021 military coup. Almost 500 religious sites, including 147 churches, were burned or destroyed by the Myanmar military in less than four years. In addition, 266 religious leaders were killed and injured.
Since the February 2021 coup, the junta arbitrarily detained over 28,000 people, including almost 200 religious leaders. Almost 30,000 youths, including ethnic and religious minorities, were forcefully conscripted in 2024.
As they are losing territories, the terrorist military council steps up airstrikes on civilian targets, including religious facilities, schools, hospitals and busy markets.
Between September 2021 and November 2024, over 4,700 airstrikes were conducted by the junta. Around 70% of the airstrikes were targeted at the civilians.
To end the killing of civilians, prevent ongoing human rights violations, and halt scam operations and transnational crimes committed by the junta and allies, the National Unity Government (NUG) is working hard in hand with ethnic resistance organizations to eradicate the root cause of the problem, the military dictatorship.
At this point, the military junta able to control less than one third of territories in Myanmar as the resistance forces achieved tremendous military victories.
In early 2024, we announced a common political agreement among the National Unity Government and ethnic allies. We anticipate a broader political agreement in 2025 for the new Federal Democratic Union that guarantees human rights, religious freedom, sustainable peace, and stability.
With the unity and bravery of the people of Myanmar, we are destined to succeed.
I thank the United States for standing up with the people of Myanmar. We need financial, material and technical support from the United States in 2025 to restore freedom, human rights and democracy sooner in Myanmar.
Thank you very much.
