1. RENGO strongly condemns the military coup in Myanmar
On 1 February, a military coup occurred just as a new parliament is about to be sworn in following the November 2020 general election, which was won by the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. RENGO strongly condemns that the Myanmar military has once again seized state power by force. This is an act that runs counter to the democratic process strongly desired by the people of Myanmar.
2. The flow of the democracy movement in Myanmar must not be stopped
RENGO, in partnership with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the ITUC-Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP), has continued to support the democracy and labour movements in Myanmar for more than 20 years, including supporting the activities of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM). We must never repeat the history of the suppression of the democracy movement and the hardships that forced trade union leaders into exile during the military regime in the past.
3. RENGO calls for a democratic transition of state power in Myanmar in corporate with international trade union organisations
The United Nations and Western countries has already issued a series of condemnation statements, and international trade union organisations such as the ITUC and ITUC-AP were quick to express their condemnation of the actions of the Myanmar military. RENGO calls for the transition of state power in Myanmar to a democratic regime through all channels, in close partnership and cooperation with international trade union organisations.
Yasunobu AIHARA,
General Secretary
Japanese Trade Union Confederation
(JTUC-RENGO)