We, the undersigned trade unions, civil society organizations, and human rights organizations, express
our solidarity with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) following the public statement issued by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) on 22 December 2025.

This responds to MNHRC’s criticism of SUHAKAM’s media statement concerning the planned elections in Myanmar.

We reject MNHRC’s characterisation of SUHAKAM’s statement as baseless or inappropriate. As a National Human Rights Institution, SUHAKAM has a clear mandate under the Paris Principles to speak out on serious and continuing human rights concerns, including those with regional implications. Public engagement on such matters falls squarely within this mandate and does not constitute interference in the
internal affairs of any state.

Contrary to MNHRC’s claims, SUHAKAM’s concerns are grounded in documented evidence of widespread
killings, arbitrary detention, mass displacement, and the systematic repression of political opposition and civil society since the February 2021 coup. These facts have been recorded by multiple independent monitoring bodies and international mechanisms and form the basis of SUHAKAM’s assessment that
conditions in Myanmar are not conducive to a genuine democratic process. 

MNHRC’s objection to the use of the term “military junta” is misleading. This terminology is widely
and consistently used by the United Nations, the International Labour Organization, and other international bodies to describe the authorities that assumed power following the February 2021 military coup. In particular, the ILO Commission of Inquiry refers to Myanmar’s current authorities as a military junta in its official findings. The use of this term therefore reflects established international usage and factual assessment, not political bias or inflammatory intent.

Invoking sovereignty and non-interference does not exempt any state or state-linked institution from
scrutiny when grave human rights violations persist. The ASEAN Charter recognizes the promotion and protection of human rights as a shared commitment of member states. Raising concerns about the credibility of elections held under conditions of violence, repression, and exclusion is consistent with, not
contrary to, ASEAN principles.

We further note that SUHAKAM’s position on declining engagement with the planned elections is grounded in human rights considerations. Refusing to endorse or participate in an electoral process conducted amid armed conflict, widespread arrests, the banning of political parties and trade unions, and the absence of fundamental freedoms cannot be construed as prejudgment. It reflects adherence to
international standards on free and fair elections. 

We are alarmed by MNHRC’s own assertion that “the first and second phases of the multi-party general election led by the State were conducted successfully, freely, and fairly,” and that the final phase “will also proceed as scheduled.” Such endorsement of an electoral process taking place amid armed conflict, mass
arrests, suppression of political parties and trade unions, and the absence of basic freedoms goes far beyond institutional neutrality.

By publicly defending the credibility of this process and attacking another National Human Rights Institution for raising concerns, MNHRC is not acting as an independent human rights body, but rather as a defender and attack dog of the military authorities’ political narrative. This raises serious questions about its
compliance with the Paris Principles and provides legitimate grounds for review of its standing within regional NHRI platforms, including SEANF, consistent with the accountability measures applied by GANHRI and the APF in similar circumstances.

Rather than attacking other National Human Rights Institutions, MNHRC should address the extensive documentation of violations occurring within Myanmar, including killings, arbitrary detention, forced labour, and attacks on workers, trade unionists, and civil society actors. Failure to confront these realities
threaten the credibility of any institution tasked with the protection of human rights. 

We support SUHAKAM’s statement and its call for accountability and respect for international human rights and labour standards. National Human Rights Institutions exist to protect rights holders and to speak truthfully about violations, even when such truths are inconvenient to those in power. 

Human rights are universal and cannot be set aside through selective interpretations of
sovereignty.

Global Union Federations:

1. Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) – Asia Pacific 
2. Education International (EI) – Asia Pacific 
3. IndustriALL – Southeast Asia 
4. International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) – Asia Pacific 
5. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) – Asia Pacific 
6. International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – Asia Pacific 
7. International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) - Asia Pacific 
8. International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) – Asia Pacific 
9. Public Services International (PSI) – Asia Pacific 
10. UNI Global Union - Asia Pacific 

ASEAN Member States

Indonesia:

1. Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Sekolah Tinggi Hukum Indonesia Jentera
2. Chemical Energy Mining Workers Union (CEMWU)
3. Federasi Kebangkitan Buruh Indonesia (FKUI)
4. Federasi Pertambangan dan Energi (FPE)
5. Federasi Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan Indonesia (SERBUK Indonesia)
6. Federasi Serikat Buruh Persatuan Indonesia (FSBPI)
7. Federasi Serikat Pekerja Bandara Indonesia (FSPBI)
8. Federasi Serikat Pekerja Mandiri (FSPM)
9. Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI)
10. Gerakan Buruh Bersama Rakyat (GEBRAK)
11. Ikatan Keluarga Korban Orang Hilang Indonesia (IKOHI)
12. Independent Educator Union Indonesia (INERU Indonesia)
13. Jaringan Nasional Advokasi Pekerja Rumah Tangga (Jala PRT)
14. Komisi untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan (KontraS)
15. Konfederasi Kongres Aliansi Serikat Buruh Indonesia (KASBI)
16. Konfederasi Persatuan Buruh Indonesia (KPBI)
17. Koreksi.org
18. Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Bali (LBH Bali)
19. Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Surabaya (LBH Surabaya)
20. Marsinah.ID
21. Partai Pembebasan Rakyat
22. Perempuan Mahardika
23. ⁠Persatuan Buruh Migran (PBM)
24. Senat Mahasiswa Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Driyarkara
25. Sentral Gerakan Buruh Nasional (SGBN)
26. Serikat Awak Kapal Transportasi Indonesia (SAKTI)
27. Serikat Buruh Konstruksi Indonesia (SBKI)
28. Serikat Pekerja Angkutan Indonesia (SPAI)
29. Solidaritas Kemanusiaan untuk Rakyat Myanmar (SKRM)
30. Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI)

Philippines:

1. Burma Solidarity Philippines 
2. NAGKAISA Labor Coalition from Philippines
3. National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW)  

Malaysia:

1. Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge (ANAK)
2. BERSIH - The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections
3. CSO Social Protection Contributors Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM)
4. End Detention Network (EDN) Malaysia
5. HAYAT
6. Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (KPPPKNS)
7. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee
8. KLSCAH Youth
9. Malay Forest Officers Union (MFOU)
10. MANDIRI
11. Migrant Care
12. National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)
13. National Union of Seafarers Peninsular Malaysia (NUSPM)
14. National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAIW)
15. North South Initiative (NSI)
16. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
17. Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)
18. Sabah Hotel, Resort, and Restaurant Union (SHRREU)
19. Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union (STIEU)
20. Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union (SBEU)
21. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
22. Tenaganita
23. To Earth With Love
24. Transnational Palm Oil Labour Solidarity (TPOLS)
25. UNI Malaysia Labour Centre (UNI-MLC)
26. Union of Employees in Trade Unions
27. Union of Forestry Employees Union (UFES)
28. University of Malaya Association for New Youth (UMANY)

Myanmar:

1. Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM)
2. Building and Wood Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (BWFM)

Cambodia:

1. Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU)
2. Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
3. Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM)
4. Cambodian Food and Service Workers Federation (CFSWF)
5. Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC)
6. Cambodian Institute of Democracy (CID)
7. Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA)
8. Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO)
9. Cambodian Tourism Workers Union Federation (CTWUF)
10. Cambodian Youths Network (CYN)
11. Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL)
12. Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability Association (CISA)
13. Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL)
14. Communication and Media Promotion Organization (CMPO)
15. Community Legal Education Center (CLEC)
16. Empowering Youth for an Equitable Society (EYES)
17. Equitable Cambodia (EC)
18. Federation Union of Free and Independent (FUFI)
19. Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Associations (IDEA)
20. Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of Nagaworld (LRSU)
21. Partnership for Environment and Development Organization (PED)
22. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut (STT)
23. The Building and Wood Workers Trade Union Federation of Cambodia (BWTUC)