While recent discussions among the ASEAN member countries have exerted some important pressure on Myanmar, with more than 750 people killed and more than 3000 detained, the military dictatorship continues its reign of terror.
- The IUF and sister GUFs are stepping up calls on all global corporations doing business in Myanmar with the military to end these relations immediately. “The financial isolation of the military, its businesses, and the crony companies and an arms embargo is urgently needed by the people of Myanmar in the struggle to end military rule and restore the path to democracy. Every foreign company must be called to account to ensure that it has absolutely no direct or indirect business relationships with any of the 120 companies and 45 crony companies listed in the UN report,“ commented IUF Asia/Pacific Regional Secretary, Hidayat Greenfield
- In a recent statement by UN experts, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews urged: “Businesses, both individually and collectively, should exert the maximum leverage on the military in Myanmar to halt what the High Commissioner for Human Rights has said may amount to crimes against humanity…The revenues that the military earns from domestic and foreign businesses substantially enhances its ability and capacity to carry out these grave violations”
- Global Union Federations (GUFs) in Asia/Pacific are calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners: “A glaring omission from the [ASEAN] statement is the demand to release all political prisoners from prison, to cease making arrests and to nullify convictions”
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley stated, “The IUF will continue to press the transnational companies with whom we have a relationship to stand with the people of Myanmar against the military dictatorship. Excuses and delays are completely unacceptable with more people hunted, detained and murdered each day. However, the priority is to get those companies doing business with the military to stop now. You can’t be with the people of Myanmar and fund those gunning them down.”
