Health workers lead Myanmar fightback
by Mehak Dugal
 
The current protests are the largest in Myanmar in over a decade.
The current protests are the largest in Myanmar in over a decade.

Fórsa and other unions across the globe have expressed support for health workers, whose industrial action has spearheaded civil opposition to the recent military coup in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

 

The military stepped in earlier this month after November 2020 elections overwhelmingly rejected the military-backed party and clearly indicated the people’s desire for an entirely civilian government.

 

Newly elected representatives were arrested on 1st February to prevent the swearing in of a new parliament. Instead, the military declared itself to be the official government in blatant violation of human rights and the rule of law.

 

In response, health workers participated in industrial action in more than 70 hospitals across the country, as tens of thousands of protestors participated in a workers’ and civil society movement to demand restoration of the civilian elected government.

 

The frontline workers, who have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, said that their commitment to save lives of the people “will extend to a commitment to save lives by opposing a military coup.”

 

And they are calling on health workers and representative organisations all around the world for their support in the struggle to uphold democracy.

 

You can also voice your support for the movement through the official hashtag #Workers4Myanmar.

 

Fórsa has applauded a statement of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM), which strongly opposed the military takeover and called for the release of arrested political leaders and the restoration of the parliament.

 

The global union federation Public Services International (PSI) also pledged its full support and condemned the military coup and subsequent arrests. It called on governments and global institutions to cease funding for the military of Myanmar and recognise the democratically-elected Government.

 

The current protests are the largest in Myanmar in over a decade. There were violent uprisings during a half century of direct army rule, which began to relax in 2011.

 

Elected leader Aug San Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize for her democracy campaigns, but more recently attracted widespread international criticism over the plight of the Muslim Rohingya minority. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled the country as refugees after facing persecution at the hands of the military.

 

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