Indonesian government joins global unions in calling for democracy restoration in Myanmar

The government of Indonesia joined more than 200 million workers worldwide in calling for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. In an advocacy mission to Myanmar held on 19 July, Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of Indonesia joined the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), global union federations (GUFs), the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ASEAN TUC), and the Global Union Indonesia Network (GUIN) in expressing his country’s grave concern regarding the worsening human rights situation in Myanmar. 

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), one of the global unions which was part of the mission, conveyed the concerns of the Myanmar Labour Alliance regarding the invitation of the military junta to countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, India, and China to official meetings. “The neighbouring countries are holding discussions on so-called solutions on Myanmar which are not based on the UN and ILO resolutions on Myanmar, and have the impact of undermining the ASEAN Five Point Consensus,” BWI Asia Pacific Regional Representative Apolinar Tolentino said. 

Mahfud MD committed Indonesia’s support for Myanmar and underscored the importance of the trade union movement in advocating for conflict resolution and restoration of democracy in the country. “The labour movement has always been an integral part of the struggle for democracy in Indonesia and the world," he said.