Dear His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, The Prime Minister of Brunei Darussalam, Retno Marsudi, Foreign Minister of Indonesia,

On 8th November 2020,  National League for Democracy(NLD) led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won with a landslide victory. 83 % of voters voted for NLD. This was as you were aware in the middle of pandemic. Volunteer teachers, Union Election members and voters risked their health to make sure that their legitimate votes count toward the ultimate landslide victory to keep NLD as elected government. 

In the dawn of 1st February 2021- hours before the general assembly of parliament with elected members was held in Nay Pyi Daw, the coup arrested prominent NLD party leaders including State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint. The world has not even seen Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint even via video link since day 1 of military coup.

The whole country has shown the world the will of the people and unity and perseverance by protests especially on 22nd February 2021. So far those detained are at least 500. The country has united to fight against  military coup. Protesters have shown the world that nothing can intimidate Myanmar people in fighting against the coup and the path to democracy. Words cannot express but photographs and videos prove why people are out in the streets this very first few weeks since the coup.

People in social media have witnessed the largest ever crowd of protesters in the national level. Western countries have been watching. UN, US, UK, and many European countries condemn military coup and call for immediate release of people detained. They call for military coup to refrain from using violent force to peaceful protesters with lethal and less than lethal weapons. People in ASEAN countries especially Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines all have shown support to Myanmar and they all could sympathise about what Myanmar people feel when their leaders are detained, their will is not respected and their basic human rights are violated.

The following are facts in regards to crime against humanity and war crimes:

Crimes against humanity:

- A 19 years old girl in Nay Pyi Taw was shot in the head with live ammunition on 9th Feb and died on 19th February.

- On 20th February, 2 teenagers in Mandalay were shot dead, one of them was a paramedic who was shot dead during serving of his health care volunteer duty. There is evidence of sniper attack/shots.

- On 20th February, a 35 year old man in Yangon who was doing a community night watch to keep the area safe was shot in the point blank range.

Violation of human rights:

The Internet is cut everyday from 1 am to 9 am.
People exercising their right to show dissent are detained
People who are doing civil disobedience movement are arrested and people who support civil disobedience by means of finance , shelters are also arrested.
From seized TV channels, no truthful information was announced and  in fact, only propaganda is released

Regarding government:

- We only support elected government ie NLD government mandated by November vote and there is CRPH (committee representing Pyidaung Su Hlut Taw (Parliament) ) and we support CRPH.

This is not an alleged claim about irregularities or fraudulent elections. Elections were done freely and fairly. There were independent bodies who were present during the election process. Under no circumstances, any democratic country in the world would not let what the military is doing to the people of Myanmar.

We are deeply concerned about Indonesia’s role in ASEAN claiming that Indonesia wants to help Myanmar. Indonesia mentioned on 21st February about consensus but you do not mention what proposal you have. Now you are planning to fly to Yangon with chartered flight on 25th February.  We are concerned about the impact you will make if you go. So far, no country recognised military coup. China and Russia have their reason to support the coup for their own benefits . 

If you visit Myanmar and meet the military coup now, Indonesia will be  historically responsible for the implication of meeting the military junta who unlawfully detained elected leaders and killed civilians. Whatever the military promises , it will not be kept. We can give you examples with our life time experience. In 1990 - NLD won a landslide victory but the military did not hand over power. In 2015, NLD won again, the military let NLD govern the country but in sectors like health, agriculture etc. Some important ministries, for eg Ministry of home affairs, judicial power were never in NLD’s scope of government. NLD has transformed Myanmar for the greater good. Please do not team up with a killer military coup. Recognising the coup will make you accountable at a later stage as you will be indirectly promoting brutality perpetrated by military coup.

If you really do visit on 25th February despite our appeal, your sole purpose of visit should be to meet our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. As a fellow foreign minister who guards democratic values,  you should be the one demanding the military coup that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be allowed to meet you, and her lawyer. The same applies to our President U Win Myint. Release of both of them should be on your agenda. If your purpose is that, then we fully support your trip to Myanmar.

We trust that you have a genuine interest to promote democracy and protect human rights and prevent further bloodshed of Myanmar people.

Therefore, please do not seek further new elections, do not call for dialogue. There is only ONE voice as people of Myanmar

- respect the 2020 election results
- release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, president U Win Myint and all arbitrarily detained and stop killing Myanmar people,
- restore the democratically elected government

If you do go to Myanmar on 25th February, please make sure you meet our Leaders Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

Yours sincerely.