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COURIER LIFE, MAY 21-27, 2021 13
Our Perspective
Workers Under
Attack in Colombia
and Myanmar Crises
By Stuart Appelbaum, President
Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union, UFCW
Twitter: @sappelbaum
This has been a brutal year for workers and
activists in Colombia and Myanmar, where
ongoing protests and labor strikes against
repressive regimes have been met with astounding
bloodshed. These attacks on workers and unions abroad need our attention
here in the U.S.; these courageous protestors are not only standing up for all
working people, but for all who hold pro-democratic ideals.
In Colombia, protests have raged for weeks after a now-canceled
proposal that would have expanded taxes on basic groceries such as bread
and eggs while also increasing taxes on many middle-class Colombians. In
late April, a national strike organized by a coalition of unions brought
thousands of protesters into the streets of Colombian cities. While the tax
plan has now been canceled, tens of thousands of people have joined the
movement, speaking out against the brutal repression of protestors and
calling for economic support for the pandemic-ravaged public. As the actions
entered their third week, dozens of protestors have been killed and over 900
injured in violent police actions.
The situation in Myanmar — where a military coup overthrew the elected
government and halted a decade of ongoing democratic reforms — is even
worse. As the country reached 100 days in early May since the February 1
military coup, the death toll for protestors stood at almost 800 civilians, while
almost 4,000 have been detained. It’s a human rights, economic, and
humanitarian crisis that has grown daily since the military junta overthrew the
elected government in Myanmar, and there is no end in sight. With an
economy in tatters and rising inflation and hunger, and anger growing over
the violent and brutal junta response to protests, experts fear a full-scale civil
war is brewing.
Workers and unions have been under assault in Myanmar since the start
of the crisis, with the junta declaring most of the country’s labor
organizations “illegal.” Myanmar’s garment workers were among the first to
take to the streets against the military junta, and they were quickly joined by
other workers including medical workers, teachers, utility workers, and
others. They were met with arrests and violence.
In early May, more than 11,000 academics and other university staff
were suspended after going on strike in protest against military rule,
endangering education institutions and bringing a fresh round of protests.
America’s labor movement stands firmly behind the protesters in
Colombia and Myanmar, and calls for the U.S. government to forcefully
condemn the violence and support the courageous workers, unions,
students, and civil society and democracy activists who are the backbone of
these social movements in these countries. America’s unions have called
upon international companies operating in Myanmar to demand the
immediate reinstatement of democracy and release of political prisoners.
In Myanmar, labor leaders and activists have said international solidarity
matters; the international support they’ve seen has helped
keep their spirits up as they fight back against the
oppressive military junta. Attacks on workers and
unions anywhere is an attack on all workers, and we
will continue to use our collective voice to support
those who are fighting for reform, human rights,
and justice across the globe.
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