Members of the Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) lining up as part of the anti-coup protests on March 2, 2021. Photo: FGWM.
As the Burmese military coup leaders escalated repression against the democracy uprising in the country this week, two Burmese union federations this week called for international pressure on their government. The Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM) is asking for international sanctions against the regime. The Federation of General Workers Myanmar (FGWM) is asking for international apparel companies to use their leverage over Burmese suppliers to protect garment workers from being dismissed for taking part in the democracy movement. Below are the two statements. For more information on the coup and its aftermath, see the piece we ran last week, Myanmar Workers and Unions on the Front Lines in Fight Against Coup.
My country needs you: no cooperation, no recognition and no business with the military junta in Myanmar
equaltimes.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from equaltimes.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
We need international solidarity - interview with Khaing Zar Aung
workersliberty.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from workersliberty.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.