Burma's citizenship laws and other relevant legislation (texts and commentary)

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Description: "The genocidal military junta in Myanmar announced that my citizenship, along with the citizenships of 10 other colleagues has been revoked. The junta’s desperate attempts to harm us and make us stateless are totally illegal and will not deter me, nor my colleagues from our work for the brave people of Myanmar who have suffered so much for so long. Indeed, it strengthens our resolve. They can strip me of my home, but they can never strip the love that I have for my people and country. They can take away my body, but they will never take away the love and hope that I have for my motherland. In fact, they have no right to give or take away my birthright. Such an act is, in fact, a violation of basic human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and is also a violation of the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961) to which Myanmar, under the military, never became a signatory. In truth, I am not surprised by this news. Rendering Myanmar people stateless is not new for the genocidal military in Myanmar. Hundreds of thousands of Myanmar people, particularly our Rohingya brothers and sisters have suffered the same fate. Living stateless in the country they were born in. The only country they have ever known. My motherland is my birth right. This can never be taken from me. I breathe my motherland’s air, I am warmed by my motherland's sun, and cleansed in my motherland's waters. This land, this culture, this identity, this heritage, I take with me in my heart. It cannot be taken from me, it cannot be beaten out of me, and I will never let it go. My identity is not defined by a hateful and bigoted military. I have dedicated my life to the country and people that I love so much, and now I continue the fight, in whatever way I can, to liberate my country from tyranny. I am proud to fight against the military dictatorship and authoritarianism. I am proud that the enemies of freedom and democracy have targeted me. This illegal acts against us are badges of honour, which I am proud to wear in solidarity with my brothers and sisters all over Myanmar and all over the world, who were likewise denied their identity and rights based on race, on religion, or on politics. The cruel military junta have hunted us with soldiers, and fighter jets, driving us from our homes and razing thousands of homes in turn creating refugees. This is the genocidal military junta’s tactic. To make us all homeless and stateless to destroy our existence but they will never succeed. Vagrants with no-one and nothing, wandering the Earth impotently. Without citizenship, without residence, how could we hope to engage politically? How would we vote, how we campaign, where could we find a safe harbor and rebuild our lives? We will win this fight, this is inevitable. The Myanmar people will not give up an inch of their homeland to these despots. My God bless the people of Myanmar, and may God bless the people of Ukraine..."
Source/publisher: Dr. Sasa via Ministry of International Cooperation Myanmar
2022-03-09
Date of entry/update: 2022-03-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 30.4 KB
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