Myanmar Regime Outlaws Committee Representing Ousted Lawmakers and Its Associates

By The Irrawaddy 22 March 2021

The military regime on Sunday outlawed a committee comprising elected members of Parliament from the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) and their associates, saying it “constitutes a danger to the rule of law, peace and stability of the state, and public peace”, according to state-run newspapers.

The CRPH—the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Union Parliament)—was founded by NLD lawmakers following the February coup as a challenge to the legitimacy of the regime, both at home and abroad. While enjoying popular support both in Myanmar and overseas, it operates underground in the country; its representatives abroad have asserted the CRPH’s status as the legitimate representative body of the Myanmar people at a time when the country’s elected leaders, including President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, are being detained by the junta.

Since its formation last month, the CRPH has supported the civil disobedience movement (CDM), a campaign calling on civil servants to refuse to work for the regime. It is also trying to sue the regime in international courts over its deadly crackdowns on civilians. Recently, the CRPH endorsed Myanmar people’s right to defend themselves from violent crackdowns.

The regime last week issued an arrest warrant for the CRPH’s international envoy, Dr. Sa Sa, charging him with high treason over what it said were his efforts to topple the coup leaders.

In the same week the regime also accused CRPH-appointed Vice-President Mahn Win Khaing Than, a former House Speaker under the NLD government, of high treason.

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