This past week, the world watched in amazement as the fifty-year rule of the Assad family in Syria came to a crashing end. The Myanmar military has ruled Burma for about as long. More importantly, the junta’s rule is just as brittle as that of Assad in Syria. To bring about the collapse of Myanmar military rule, let’s keep the faith and be relentless in our struggle.
Next year, we face new challenges with the new U.S. Administration particularly with regard to protecting Burmese refugees in the US. But I am sure of one thing. I know that you will continue to take effective action to ensure that the new Administration and Congress supports the return of democracy and human rights in Burma. Syria is now on the road to freedom, we want the same for Myanmar.
With that in mind, let’s use these last few weeks to build up our support in Congress. Let’s tell our House Members to co-sponsor the “Bringing Real Accountability Via Enforcement in Burma Act,” or BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863) that aims to curtail the Myanmar’s military’s sources of money, arms, aviation fuel, and legitimacy that it needs to stay in power.
Click here to tell your House Member to support and co-sponsor the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863).
In addition, U.S. Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) have introduced the Rohingya Genocide, Accountability, and Protection Act, or Rohingya GAP Act (H.R.8936).
The bill seeks to provide protection, support, and humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced people. It also promotes accountability and a path out of genocide and crimes against humanity for the Rohingya.
Please follow up your message in these three simple ways.
If you have extra time, you may follow up your message with an email, phone call, and/or meeting with the staff of your House Member. Just follow the steps below!
We have resources to make this easier for you. We’ve created an online listing of key staff of every member of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Click here to find the staffers to your U.S. House Member.
Follow up #1: send a direct email
Click to find the names, emails, and phone numbers of key staffers to your U.S. senators and representative:
- Click here to enter your zip code and find your House Member
- Click here to find the staffers to your U.S. House Member.
- Click here to check if your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863).
- Click here to check if your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of the Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936).
- (If your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of both or either bill, thank them. We don’t do that enough!)
You may wish to use a succinct and direct subject line such as: “Co-sponsor BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863) and Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936)”
Start your message with a mention of where you live in the district of your Member of Congress. Feel free to include a sentence or two on why you care about human rights and Myanmar in particular. Please use or adapt the following text in your email. Please blind copy (bcc) us on your email at [email protected].
I ask that you co-sponsor and support the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863) and and the Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936).
The United States must show leadership in holding the Myanmar military accountable for its coup d’etat and its brutal crimes against humanity. Congress must also show support for Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and its democratic and multi-ethnic new National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG).
The BRAVE Burma Act will help deprive the Myanmar military of the money, arms, aviation fuel, and legitimacy it needs to stay in power.
The Rohingya GAP Act seeks to provide protection, support, and humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and internally displaced people. It also promotes accountability and a path out of genocide and crimes against humanity for the Rohingya.
Please write back and tell me if you have co-sponsored the the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863) and and Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936). Thank you.
Follow up #2: make a phone call
- Click here to enter your zip code and find your House Member
- Click here to find the staffers to your U.S. House Member.
- Click here to check if your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863).
- Click here to check if your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of the Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936).
- (If your U.S. representative is already a co-sponsor of both or either bill, thank them. We don’t do that enough!)
- When you reach their office, ask to be connected directly to the staffer, either in person on their voicemail.
- Simply tell the staffer – in person or on their voicemail – that you want your U.S. representative to co-sponsor and the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.8863) and the Rohingya GAP Act (H.R. 8936).
- Leave your name, number, and city of residence to indicate that you live in the state.
- Email us at [email protected] and tell us how your calls went.
Follow up #3 meet your Members of Congress in person or by video
We’re seeking one or more people in each state and House district. We would work with you to set up a video or in-person meeting with the staff of your House Member or senators. We’d also prepare you beforehand with talking points. The goal is to let you – voters from the district – lobby your Members of Congress effectively.
We have been impressed at how many people have already contacted us to meet their Members of Congress. Nothing has more impact on Congress than the voice of voters from the district. If you wish to organize or just participate in a meeting with staffers of your Members of Congress, just email us at [email protected]
Just one meeting, email, or phone call from a constituent can make a difference. Your Members of Congress need to know that you want Congress to act. The people of Myanmar can’t wait any longer.
Thank so much for your time and your support.
In Solidarity,
Simon Billenness, Executive Director
Campaign for a New Myanmar
For the team at Campaign for a New Myanmar: Debbie Stothard, Simran Stuelpnagel, Alyson Chadwick, Lucky Karim, and Kristiana Kuqi.
ps. Your gifts will help us keep building the campaigns and tools that we need to take effective action together. Please click here to make a one-time or recurring sustaining gift of $10, $25, $50, or $100.
For More Information:
Stay informed with these news sources
- Justice For Myanmar works incognito inside Myanmar to research the Myanmar military’s business empire and exposes its domestic and foreign business partners
- Myanmar Campaign Network
- Check out – and follow – the Facebook page of our key ally in Myanmar, the Blood Money Campaign
- Subscribe to Frontier Myanmar’s excellent daily coverage from inside the country.
- Check out the daily news at Myanmar Now Listen to the podcasts at Insight Myanmar
Learn more about the BRAVE Burma Act here.
Learn more about the Rohingya GAP Act here.