03/01/2021
BAB Statement Addressing the Recent Political Situation in Myanmar (Burma)
To the UC Berkeley boards of leadership, faculty, and students, we are writing on behalf of the UC Berkeley Myanmar students who are experiencing times of extenuating hardships. On the morning of February 1st, 2021, the Myanmar military seized power by staging a coup which has caused distress and anger to the Burmese community.
February 1st, 2021 was meant to be a day of inauguration for newly elected democratic officials Results from the November 2020 election showed that State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, party leader of the National League of Democracy (NLD), won by a landslide --capturing 397 parliamentary seats out of 476. Despite the clear victory of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the military-linked Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed these results as fraudulent and accused the election for voter fraud.
On the morning of February 1st 2021 (Myanmar Time), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were detained along with other cabinet members, senior government officials, chiefs ministers, and political activists.. Following this, cell phone services, internet providers, international and local broadcasters, and banks were all disrupted and suspended such that Burmese citizens were cut off from each other and the rest of the world.
Within a couple of hours, the military-owned news stations broadcasted that the country was now under full control of the military. In addition, the military also announced that they had declared a state of emergency for at least one year under their leadership.
With the ongoing political instability of Myanmar (Burma), we ask the UC Berkeley boards of leadership, faculty, and students to show support to our fellow bears back in Myanmar. UC Berkeley students who currently reside in Myanmar are encountering times of uncertainty regarding internet access and any forms of communication -- which can significantly impede their academic performance, especially with this online semester. We are asking UC Berkeley and its faculty to provide academic support, accommodations, mental health resources, and leniency for those affected during these mentally and emotionally distressing times. In addition, we also ask the UC Berkeley Financial Aid & Scholarship to consider current and future tuition concerns that may arise for the students affected.
As students of UC Berkeley, the Burma Association at Berkeley calls upon support from the institution and community to stand in solidarity and condemn this militaristic ruling during this difficult period.
Burma Association at Berkeley
[email protected]
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
To any Berkeley students who would like access to mental health resources during these difficult times, you can visit https://uhs.berkeley.edu/caps
