25 September 2007 – The Federation of Trade Unions Burma condemns the shootings, killings, beatings and use of brute force by the regime on the peacefule protest of the monks, nuns, students and the general population.

Like in 1988, the use of military weapons against peaceful demands of the people is the only method that the regime understands.

The protests of the monks, the students, the general population since the 18th of this month is not just about fuel price but about the need for change. The need for the regime to enter into a dilaogue with the election wining parties.

The regime does not accept diplomacy nor discussions as means to solving the political issues of Burma. Like all dictators, they think these approaches as ‘soft”.

The regime locks down the people, the country whenever the people express their anger.

FTUB had been outlawed and our members given long prison sentences .

FTUB states that it is time that the regime should be shut down by the international trade union community whenever they crack down, shut down on the non violent protets of the people.

The embassies of the regime should be shut down and not be given access to the world until the regime starst to treat the citizens, the workers and farmers of Burma as human beings.

We call upon the ITUC and all the international trade unions and their members not to provide services to the regime’s embassies and should there be picket lines, not to cross the picket lines until the regime starts acknowledging the Interational Labor Standards.

From: ITUC Press
To: ITUC Online
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:32 PM
Subject: ITUC OnLine: Burma

Burma: Military Violence Against Protesters – ITUC Organising Global Action

Brussels, 26 September 2007 (ITUC OnLine): With protests in Burma, led by Buddhist monks and nuns, gathering momentum in recent days the military junta has now reacted with ferocious assaults on the demonstrators. The Federation of Trade Unions of Burma, an associated organisation of the ITUC, reports today that one monk has been killed by the military, and violent confrontations have taken place in several locations, notably around the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon. Some 700 students, monks and nuns have been beaten by riot police with batons, and at least 20 teargas canisters and a similar number of live bullets have been fired by police in the vicinity of the Pagoda. Other sources indicate that as many as four people may have been killed, and several hundred arrested.

The ITUC and its Global Unions partners have launched an appeal to affiliates worldwide for global action, including at Burmese diplomatic missions around the world, to increase pressure on the military elite which controls the country.

“We welcome the announcement of urgent UN Security Council talks today on the crisis, and call for the immediate dispatch of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma”, said Guy Ryder. “The world trade union movement is stepping up the pressure, with demonstrations involving trade unions and other civil society groups scheduled for this Saturday in a number of countries”, he added.

The ITUC is deeply concerned at the spiraling violence resulting from the regime’s intolerance of any dissent or opposition, and is convinced that now more than ever, the ruling junta must be placed under the maximum possible international pressure, including economic sanctions against the junta. These should cover the key sectors including timber, energy and mining. “The continued repression and flagrant violation of the most fundamental rights by the Burmese junta brings shame on those governments which have neglected to give this problem the attention it deserves, and those commercial interests whose relations with the Burmese military have helped them stay in power, to the terrible detriment of people throughout the country and those who have been forced to flee persecution, torture and abuse”, said Ryder.

Founded on 1 November 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.

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To view the full statement: Click here.