CTUM condemns the military regime for issuing warrants for CTUM Central Committee members within country and then declaring the passports of the whole CTUM Central Committee as void to block international travel.

2021 June 04

CTUM, the Myanmar Trade Union Confederation with 100.000 members all over the country in all sectors, strongly condemns the military regime for issuing 28 unacceptable and illegal arrest warrants against the CTUM Central Committee members. 

Issuing warrants, under the Myanmar Penal Code 124 (A) that does not provide fair chance to defend

oneself or be assisted by lawyers, is a serious violation of the Basic Human Rights.

Declaring the passports of all the Central Committee members void, in order to block the international

travels, is also another violation of a persons’ basic rights. 

Such a decision has been taken during the 109th ILO Conference, in which the military Junta has presented its illegitimate tripartite delegation against the National Unity Government tripartite delegation that includes as worker delegate the CTUM representative.

This highlights that the regime does not have answers to the international pressure and especially the

pressure from the international trade unions.

Once again it is clear that the regime only understands and uses the abusive brutal approach of shooting

unarmed citizens / looting of defenseless citizens / blocking of international access / issuing warrants to

anyone seemed as a threat to them.

CTUM is an independent trade union Confederation that on the 29th of January 2021 before the military

coup to support the election winners and not to accept any impediment to the democratic transition in

Myanmar.

Freedom of Association, the Right to Collective Bargaining cannot be achieved without Democracy, as its

foundation and especially under a dictatorship.

We will not surrender to the military threats to personal freedom of the trade unionists that are courageously fighting against the coup. We are committed to the removal of the military dictatorship in

our country. We will continue our work both internally and internationally and we will work with all, so

that Myanmar becomes a democratic federal system. We urge  governments and international institutions to strongly oppose to any dialogue with the junta without the inclusion of the legitimate representatives of the Myanmar people and workers, that is without the recognition and involvement of the NUG. 

Sincerely,

Maung Maung

President