(Reuters) - An alliance of influential worker unions in Myanmar has called for an extended nationwide strike starting on Monday, with the intention of causing the "full, extended shutdown" of the country's economy in an attempt to stop a military coup.
Myanmar
Tuesday 2 March 2021, by Kevin Lin
On late Friday evening, February 26 (local time), the Myanmar military declared most of the country’s labor organizations illegal on public television, with the threat of arrests if their activities continue, adding to the urgency of international solidarity activities.
On February 1, the Myanmar military staged a coup and seized power from the elected civilian government under the pretext of alleged election fraud. The coup leaders detained top government leaders and activists, shut off the internet, and suspended flights. This marks a dark and uncertain turn in the country’s decade-long, fraught experiment with partial democratization.
Striking garment workers demonstrated outside the offices of the International Labor Organization in Yangon, Myanmar, earlier this week demanding that global apparel brands ensure workers are not punished for participating in pro-democracy protests. Photo: Andrew Tillett-Saks, Twitter.
Update: Late Friday evening, February 26 (local time), the Myanmar military declared most of the country s labor organizations illegal on public television, with the threat of arrests if their activities continue, adding to the urgency of international solidarity activities.
On February 1, the Myanmar military staged a coup and seized power from the elected civilian government under the pretext of alleged election fraud. The coup leaders detained top government leaders and activists, shut off the internet, and suspended flights. This marks a dark and uncertain turn in the country’s decade-long, fraught experiment with partial democratization.
Workers Revolutionary Party
Federation of Garment Workers Myanmar leading demonstrations in Hlaing Thi Yar industrial zone during Monday s strike
THE G7 (Group of Seven) countries have âfirmlyâ condemned the heavy-handed crackdown, including the use of live ammunition, committed by Myanmarâs junta against the anti-coup protesters.
Seeing the working class fight back with a general strike, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the United States as well as the European Unionâs high representative for foreign policy, on Tuesday urged the Myanmar security forces to âexercise utmost restraint and respect human rights and international law.â