BWI condemns execution of Myanmar democracy activists

The Building and Woodworkers’ International (BWI), representing 12 million workers worldwide, condemns in the strongest possible terms the military junta of Myanmar for the brutal execution of four democracy activists who were absurdly accused of “terror acts.”

BWI extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the families, comrades and friends of Kyaw Min Yu, Phyo Zeya Thaw, Hia Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw. We join the international community in condemning this atrocious violence against the Myanmar people’s right to life and political and civil liberties. 

The charges against the democracy defenders are entirely baseless. They are meant to delegitimise the Myanmar people’s struggle for democracy and sow fear among the country’s populace. They are nothing but desperate measures by isolated despots who desperately want cling to power and disrupt the momentum of Myanmar’s broad and unstoppable democracy movement. The real acts of terror are those being continuously committed by the junta, clearly constituting as crimes against humanity. 

BWI calls on the global community, especially the international trade union movement, to act swiftly and purposively against the military junta’s latest act of brutality. More than ever, the international community must respond with action, not only with words. We call for a strong and coordinated action to hold accountable the military junta for its atrocity crimes. We also call for an all-out, outright and unconditional invalidation and non-recognition of the military junta in all international and regional multilateral assemblies and platforms, and the full recognition of the Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG). The future of Myanmar must be forged by its democracy-loving citizens, not by rapacious power grabbers and mass murderers.

Photo: Reuters