Today marks four years since the Myanmar military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government, plunging the nation into one of the most severe crises in the Indo-Pacific. Since the coup, the people of Myanmar have endured relentless military rule, stripped of their fundamental rights, democratic freedoms, and, for thousands, their very lives.
We strongly condemn the military regime’s escalating violence against civilians, including egregious human rights violations, sexual and gender-based violence, and the systemic persecution of religious and ethnic minorities. The military’s indiscriminate airstrikes—now occurring at an alarming rate of three per day—have devastated communities, destroying schools, markets, places of worship, and medical facilities. This marks a nearly 25-fold increase since 2021, signaling a dangerous escalation in brutality, even in areas with no active conflict.
We call on the Myanmar military to de-escalate violence immediately and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid across the country. All parties must prioritize the protection of civilians and adhere to International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws.
As of 2025, the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with needs skyrocketing twenty-fold since the coup. Over one-third of Myanmar’s population—19.9 million people—now rely on aid for survival. Food insecurity is rampant, with 15.2 million in desperate need of food assistance, while preventable diseases continue to spread unchecked.
The conflict has displaced 3.5 million people within Myanmar, nearly one million more than last year. Many have fled across borders, while transnational crimes, including drug trafficking, scam operations, and human trafficking, threaten not just Myanmar but the broader region’s stability.
This trajectory is unsustainable. The Myanmar military must change course immediately. We urge the regime to cease violence against civilians, release all political prisoners, and engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders. These are critical first steps toward restoring democracy and honoring the will of Myanmar’s people.
We reaffirm our support for ASEAN’s leadership, particularly the Five-Point Consensus and the efforts of the ASEAN Chair’s Special Envoy, in addressing the ongoing crisis. We welcome increased collaboration between ASEAN and the United Nations, urging global support for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2669 (2022). Accountability for the regime’s atrocities is essential—human rights must be upheld, and violations must be stopped.
The international community must not waver. We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and remain committed to supporting their vision for a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future.
