We urge democratic Myanmar, where no one is left behind
-Statement of Korean Disability Forum, in solidarity with the Disabled Citizens in Myanmar
On 1 February 2021, military led by Min Aung Hlaing launched a coup in Myanmar. People in Myanmar, who began to step toward a democratic society with clear hopes after decades of civil war, rebel fiercely against the military dictatorship.
Among them, of course, are people with disabilities. 51 organisations of the persons with disabilities, including Myanmar Federation of Persons with Disabilities, issued a joint statement on 15 February declaring that the “people with disabilities are participating in resistance to the coup with fellow Myanmar citizens across the country and supporting a civil disobedience movement to our utmost capacity.” In addition, the statement pointed out that the coup overturns their progress of implementing the human rights frameworks such as UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(UN CRPD), Sustainable Development Goals, ASEAN Enabling Master plan 2025, and Incheon strategy. The organisations of the persons with disabilities in Myanmar urges the military to return power to the elected democratic government immediately and asked the international disability community and human rights agencies including the UN CRPD committee to support their fight for democracy.
Responding to the urgent and strong request of our colleagues in Myanmar, Korean Disability Forum declares our solid solidarity and support for all citizens, especially those with disabilities, who desire democracy and peace in Myanmar.
We urge the Min Aung Hlaing military to immediately and peacefully transfer power to the elected judiciary, legislature, and administration and to respect that the sovereignty of Myanmar rests with the people of Myanmar. We also call upon immediate release of detained politicians, public officers and civil society activists.
We also declare our will to support the efforts of the people of Myanmar to form a “democratic society that no one is left behind” after the overthrow of the military dictatorship.
For the globe severely damaged by COVID-19, civil society around the world is demanding “building back better” instead of mere return to the society before the Pandemic; and this is also adaptable for the future of Myanmar. People with disabilities is one of the most marginalised groups in most countries. Every country should do its best to step forward to a more inclusive, more accessible, more equal and less discriminatory society than now.
Exclusion is no longer acceptable.
We are in solidarity with people with disabilities in Myanmar who are doing their best to fight for democracy and sincerely hope that their rights will be fully realised in the democratic Myanmar like all other citizens.
The more we are connected, the stronger we become. With all respect to the courage and determination of all Myanmar citizens, especially our colleagues with disabilities, we resolve our continued solidarity.
2 March 2021
Korean Disability Forum
Corporation "Nodeul"
Cultural Welfare "Gong-gam"
Disability and Human Rights in Action("FootAct")
Disability Discrimination Act of Solidarity in Korea
Jangjigong
Korea Association of Blind Women
Korea Council of Centers for Independent Living
Korea Differently Abled Federation
Korea Solidarity for Human rights of disability people with Brain lesion
Korean Alliance for Mobilizing Inclusion
Korean Parents' Network for the People with Disabilities
National Council of Popular School for People with Disability
Nodeul Independent Living Centre for the Disabled
Open Network
Rehabilitation International Korea
Research Institute for Disability Rights
Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination
Women with Disabilities Empathy
