For weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have been participating in peaceful mass demonstrations across Myanmar in the wake of a coup led by the Army. As the peaceful civil disobedience movement continues to protest against the military takeover, authorities are resorting to violence and cracking down civilians—including trade unions and their leaders.
Police have issued arrest warrants for 20 union leaders, the majority from the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM), including the union vice president, Soe Lay.
According to reports from the union, plain clothes police are trying to find the union leaders who participated in a nationwide strike last Monday. IWFM president Khang Zar said in a statement:
“IWFM has worked relentlessly to protect the rights and improve the lives of garment workers and their families since we were allowed back into the country after the previous dictatorship, back in 2012.
“Together, Myanmar’s people and the international community can bring back democracy. Through civil disobedience, protest, and strikes, the people of Myanmar are speaking up clearly and loudly. We need the international community to do the same. We need you to stand by our side to make this coup collapse.”
To date, more than 100 elected parliamentarians and chief ministers, including the former government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, have been arrested by the military.
“Unions play an important role in the fight to return democracy to Myanmar. We give our unequivocal solidarity support to our affiliates in the country and call for a return to the civilian-led government elected by the people,” said Valter Sanches, general secretary of the global union federation IndustriALL. The IWFM is an affiliate of the group.
Labor activists in Myanmar are asking for statements of solidarity and support from unions and workers internationally.
CONTRIBUTOR
Comments