Campaign to free trade unionists

Khin Kyaw, President of the All Burma Workers' Union, is serving a 17-year prison sentence for organising workers. Myo Aung Thant, Executive Officer of the Federation of Trade Unions - Burma (FTUB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his union activism.

Both reportedly have been beaten and tortured, their families have been interrogated and threatened. Aye Ma Gyi, wife of Myo Aung Thant, is serving a 10-year jail sentence for assisting her husband. The couple has two young daughters.

Burma has one of the world's most horrendous labour rights records. Freedom of association, the right to organise, and collective bargaining are met with violent opposition by the Burmese military, while forced labour is commonly imposed on citizens.

Multinational corporations increasingly are relocating production to countries such as Burma where repression of unions is widespread. The denial of union representation and worker rights in Burma undermines the livelihood of workers throughout the world.

Unionists and all those concerned about such human rights abuses can help win the release of Khin Kyaw and Myo Aung Thant, and all other detained unionists.

Take Action

Send a message to the Ambassador from Burma in Australia by copying and pasting this text into your own letter or email.

Dear Ambassador U Aye,

I demand the immediate and unconditional release of jailed labor leaders Khin Kyaw and Myo Aung Thant and all other union detainees in Burma. I support trade union rights and democratic freedom in Burma.

Send your message to:

U Aye
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
22 Arkana St
Yarralumla ACT 2600
fax: 02 6273 4357
email: mecanberra@bigpond.com

Send a message to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, urging him to put pressure on the Burmese regime in relation to repression of labour rights. Copy and paste this text into your own letter or email.

Dear Mr Downer,

I urge you to raise the issue of repression of labour rights with representatives of the Union of Burma in Australia.

Burma has one of the world's most horrendous labour rights records. Freedom of association, the right to organise, and collective bargaining are met with violent opposition by the Burmese military, while forced labour is commonly imposed on citizens.

In particular I urge you to demand the immediate and unconditional release of jailed labor leaders Khin Kyaw and Myo Aung Thant and all other union detainees in Burma.

Send your message to:

The Hon Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
fax: 02 6273 4112
email: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au

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Last Modified: Sunday, 22-Apr-2007 16:51:12 EST
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