News

Statement on Myanmar/ Burma



UNI Global Union denounces the sham elections that took place on Sunday 7th November, 2010, in Myanmar/ Burma. Harsh election laws excluded opposition parties and democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi from participating in campaigning and voting. Thousands of people who have supported democracy remain in prison. These conditions perpetuate the control of the country by the military regime.

UNI Congress calls on the Government of Myanmar/Burma to take the following immediate actions:

· Release Aung San Suu Kyi and all 2200 political prisoners including labour activists, immediately and unconditionally.

· Restore democracy and human rights and end forced labour in the country.

· Remove its ban on trade unions and give workers in Burma a voice and to give effect in law and practice to freedom of association in Burma

UNI further supports the demands of the ITUC for a United Nations led Commission of Inquiry with a mandate to examine war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Burma and for the international community, through the UN Security Council, to enact a total arms embargo on Burma.

UNI assure the SPDC that trade unions will continue their campaign until there is respect for and a full realisation of the human rights of all the people of Burma.