No Freedom to Defend: Myanmar's Environmental Defenders Continue to Fight for Environmental and Social Justice in the Face of Authoritarian Junta Control

ABSTRACTED FROM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In the wake of the 2021 military coup, the futures of Myanmar’s lands, forests and biodiversity, hang in the balance. In addition to the reignition of armed conflict that has seen over 1.7 million people displaced1, 20,000 arrested, and 3,000 killed2, across the country, illicit mining operations have proliferated, destroying forests, unearthing mountains and polluting surrounding rivers and streams. The Myanmar junta and their allied militias, BGFs, and companies, as well as EAOs have taken advantage of the instability created by the coup utilising this window to make fast profits at the expense of Myanmar’s people, land and forests. In the face of growing authoritarianism and rapid destruction of Myanmar’s environment and natural resources, indigenous and local environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) continue to fight for the protection of their lands, forests, rivers and biodiversity. This task, however, has become extremely high risk, due to growing militarization, surveillance, conflict and political instability. A growing number of environmental defenders now either languish in prison, facing extensive jail sentences under false charges, or have had to go into hiding, taking refuge in the forests, borderlands, or neighbouring countries for safety. The introduction of a new set of repressive laws mean that personal freedom and privacy of citizens have been curtailed, and those suspected of engaging in environmental and human rights protection activities can be easily detained. This briefing report details the challenges that environmental defenders are facing and calls on local, national and global actors to provide greater support and protection for environmental defenders.

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