‘Silent Strike’ on Human Rights Day to highlight abuses under military rule

By DMG 09 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
9 December 2021, Sittwe 

Myanmar activists at home and abroad have called for a nationwide “Silent Strike” marking Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10. 

Ko Tay Za San, leader of the Mandalay General Strike, called on the public, students’ unions and political activists to join Friday’s Silent Strike in order to bolster efforts to rid the country of military dictatorship. 

“Captain Zero,” a defected Tatmadaw officer who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), called on the people to stand up to the military dictatorship by participating in the Silent Strike. 

A company employee in Yangon told DMG that efforts to take part in the Silent Strike to mark Human Rights Day were restricted by some of the company’s HR managers. 

“HR managers will not allow employees to participate in the Silent Strike due to be held tomorrow as part of celebrations for Human Rights Day. … I was told by HR officials that I would not be allowed to take casual leave. The media also needs to put pressure on the people who barred employees from joining the Silent Strike,” the employee said. 

The Silent Strike calls on people all over the country to stay home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 10. As part of the accompanying “Black Campaign,” people are asked to dress in black, and upload and share photos of themselves on social media making the three-fingered salute, which has become synonymous with the anti-junta movement. 

A CDM healthcare worker said that despite many difficulties to take part in the Silent Strike, he would continue to be a part of the anti-coup movement. 

“We will continue to fight until the dictatorship is overthrown,” he said.