Myanmar nationals in the United States held a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC on June 7, demonstrating against China’s involvement in Myanmar’s political affairs. The protest, which took place from 2 PM to 5 PM, was attended by Myanmar politicians based in the US, actor Kha Ra, singer-songwriter Lin Htet, Htet Aung Shine, and other pro-democracy activists and youth leaders.
During the protest, U Kyaw Swe Win, son of writer Myaungmya Ba Swe and former parliamentary candidate for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s constituency in Kawhmu Township, spoke about China’s brutal interference in Myanmar’s internal affairs and its violation of the people’s dignity and national sovereignty. Singer-songwriter Lin Htet emphasized how the Myanmar people have demonstrated their hunger for democracy both on the streets and with their lives, noting that civilians face daily bombings and suffering.
Actor Kha Ra delivered a strong message in Chinese, condemning the Chinese government’s deep involvement in Myanmar’s internal affairs. The protesters demanded that the Chinese government cease all forms of support for the illegal military regime, respect Myanmar people’s sovereignty and democracy, and stop using humanitarian aid and infrastructure projects to support the military dictatorship. They called for China to support a genuine inclusive peace process that reflects the aspirations of all Myanmar people, not just the interests of the violent minority.
In a joint statement, Myanmar communities from the Washington DC DMV area, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and New York announced that they would continue worldwide protests until their demands are met. They specifically called on the Chinese government to support a genuine peace process that reflects the aspirations of all Myanmar people, not just the interests of the military regime, and to respect the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people. The protesters emphasized that they would continue their resistance until China ceases all forms of support for the illegal military regime and demonstrates genuine respect for Myanmar’s sovereignty and its people’s democratic aspirations.
