Dear [insert name],

I am a Singaporean citizen and constituent of [insert constituency]. I am writing to you to express my concern over the coup in Myanmar, the consequent protests, and Singapore’s position on this matter.

People in Myanmar are currently engaged in widespread protests against the military coup that took place on 1 February. There have been detentions — including of the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other officials in the elected NLD government — as well as internet shutdowns, late-night raids, and the use of force against peaceful protesters. On 19 February, 20-year-old Mya Thwet Thwet Khine died from her injuries after being shot in the head by the police at an anti-coup protests ten days’ prior. On 20 February, another two civilian deaths were reported after the security forces used lethal weapons against unarmed protesters — an act that Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as “inexcusable”.

Protesters in Myanmar have begun calling attention to the Singaporean connection to this situation: as a member of ASEAN and the largest foreign investor in Myanmar, Singapore occupies a position of influence with Myanmar’s military junta, the perpetrators of this coup and the current oppression of Myanmar people. As stated in this report by Vice:

“The wealthy island city-state is Myanmar’s biggest foreign investor, overtaking China in 2019 to bring in more than $24 billion of capital through lucrative real estate projects, banking, shipping, sand exports and construction, as well as arms sales.”

I note that, in acknowledging Singapore’s business interests in Myanmar, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan also said that

“it is crucial for us, in both good times and bad times, to maintain this separation between politics and business, and let businesses make commercial decisions and investment decisions on their own merits. And I think this is a good time for us to maintain that discipline.”

It is natural that, as Singaporeans, we want to see our homegrown businesses and companies flourish whenever they venture overseas. However, their growth, expansion, and wealth should never come at the price of being, directly or indirectly, complicit in the oppression of others, or the undermining of another country’s democracy.

One might feel that politics and business should remain separate, but the reality is that politics and business are often intertwined, particularly in a context like Myanmar’s, where the military is actively engaged in business, with many interests in the private sector. These business interests are how the Myanmar military and its leaders make money and accrue resources, enabling them to continue operating with impunity in their country.

Furthermore, a coup like this one in Myanmar is also bad for Singapore’s own interests. It fosters instability in Myanmar, which would also have spillover effects for the rest of the countries in the region, including Singapore. Such conditions are unhelpful to the region and to Singapore, especially at a time when we’re already struggling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a Singaporean who was proud to be able to vote in my own country’s elections last year, I stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar who want their own votes to be respected, and not rendered meaningless by unsubstantiated claims of fraud.

As my elected representative, I urge you to speak up about the crisis in Myanmar, and Singapore’s part in, whether intentionally or otherwise, propping up the perpetrators of the coup. I would also like the Singapore government to make clear if our government-linked companies, or Temasek-linked companies have dealings with the Myanmar military and its network of companies, and whether the government will set the example for other Singaporean businesses by divesting from such ventures with the Myanmar military.

I urge Singapore to follow the lead of countries like the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand to impose limited sanctions focused on Myanmar’s military leaders. While I agree with Dr Balakrishnan that widespread sanctions would hurt ordinary Myanmar citizens, limited sanctions that target the military leaders and their affiliates — people who are most culpable for the coup and the ensuing violence and unrest — are necessary to take a stand against state violence and abuses of power in Myanmar.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[name]