The military coup in Myanmar is a brutal attack on democracy. The IUF demands that the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] stand down from all elected government positions, withdraw from political and civilian affairs, and end its economic activities. The IUF also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained political party leaders and elected representatives, journalists, writers and human rights defenders. We call for free, fair and transparent elections which include the participation of all peoples, including the 2.6 million previously disenfranchised based on their ethnicity. We extend full solidarity to protesters demanding a return to democratic, civilian rule.
Read more from IUF Asia/Pacific here.
The IUF joins with our sister global unions in calling on:
- The UN Security Council to impose sanctions against the military leaders responsible for the coup including sanctions to target the economic capital which provides the military with its revenue
- The UN Security Council to impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar
- The European Union to cancel Myanmar’s Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential trade status
- International companies operating in Myanmar to end any direct or indirect business relationships or financial ties to military-owned businesses and to use their leverage to secure the release of detainees, restore democratic institutions, and guarantee the human and labour rights of all Myanmar workers. This must include international companies providing support to workers where operations are curtailed, including protection to workers protesting the coup.
We urge our affiliates to exert pressure on their national governments to demand that the Myanmar military rescind the state of emergency, immediately release all political figures and activists, defend the Myanmar people’s right to choose their leaders, and remove limits on freedom of expression, assembly and association.
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley declared “the IUF will enter into discussions with TNC’s that have direct operations, supply chains or other economic interests in Myanmar. We expect companies to take active steps to cease business activities with the military and their backers and to use their leverage to protect workers protesting the coup, uphold democracy and promote a return to civilian rule.”
