U.S. Workers Join in Support of Saffron Revolution

Tim Ryan at the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center was among hundreds of Washington, D.C.-area activists taking part in Friday’s rally in support of Burma’s pro-democracy movement.

Chanting “Burma, Burma, must be free! Freedom, justice, democracy!” hundreds of union members, students and our allies gathered Friday afternoon at 23rd and S streets in Washington, D.C., at the Burmese Embassy—as we have many times over the past several years in support of the Burmese public.

Spurred on by the dramatic protests of tens of thousands of Buddhist monks and ordinary citizens and workers challenging the military dictatorship in the streets of Burmese cities like Rangoon and Mandalay, members of organizations from across the area joined in condemning the Burmese generals’ violence against their own people. Some reports say thousands of people have been killed by the military following days of protest, and 200 monks murdered by the military who crushed their skulls against a brick wall, figures that are imposible to verify because the nation is a closed police state. An autopsy today found a Japanese journalist covering the protests was shot point blank.

Friday’s protest was organized by the U.S. Campaign for Burma and supported by the AFL-CIO, the Solidarity Center and AFT. Contingents of student activists from American University and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., also joined in, as did a group from the University of Maryland.

Addressing the crowd, AFL-CIO International Affairs Director Barbara Shailor said:

The AFL-CIO today—and the entire global labor movement—stands with our brave union brothers and sisters inside the cauldron of Burma. We call upon the Burmese government to release all political prisoners, including six labor rights activists who were sentenced for up to 28 years in prison for exercising their rights as workers in Labor Day activities on May First. We call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi.

As a pro-democracy campaigner and leader of the National League for Democracy [ NLD] party, Aung San Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 of the past 18 years in some form of detention under Burma’s military regime. In 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring democracy to Burma.)

After gathering at the Burmese Embassy, we marched to the Chinese Embassy where speakers called on China to actively push the Burmese generals to stop the violence and begin a dialogue with democratic forces.

Shailor addressed the demonstrators at the Chinese Embassy as well: 

The AFL-CIO in a letter to the Chinese president today urged China to use its influence to see that violence against the Burmese people ends. It urges the Chinese government to take its place on the world stage at this vital moment to push for dialogue and reconciliation in Burma and to prevent further violence and bloodshed.

It now has become clearer how important a role Burma’s neighbors, especially India, Thailand and China, should play in pressuring the brutal military regime in Burma to stop the violence and enter into a real dialogue with political parties, ethnic groups, workers and ordinary citizens to restore democracy.

In a letter to Senior Gen. Than Shwe, chairman of the State Peace & Development Council (SPDC), AFL-CIO President John Sweeney demanded the military stop the violence and cease all hostilities against the people of Burma, immediately order the return of military and security forces back to their barracks and release all monks, students and other political prisoners currently being detained. Wrote Sweeney: 

We further demand that you immediately release the National League for Democracy leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin 0o, as well as all trade unionist and labor rights activists now detained. The AFL-CIO strongly urges you and the SPDC to immediately enter into political negotiations without preconditions with the National League for Democracy and other political parties and the representatives of the ethnic nationalities of Burma to seek a peaceful solution to the current unrest, and to forge a truly democratic future for Burma. 

Oct. 4 has been designated International Bloggers’ Day in support of the Burmese people. Check out Taylor Marsh on Oct. 4, whose guest blogger, Mash, will share insights on the situation there. Also check out video of Burma protests at Witness.

		Become a Fan on Facebook			Follow Us on Twitter			Subscribe to YouTube			Subscribe to Blog RSS

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)