‘Silent Strike’ empties streets across Myanmar in protest of military rule

By DMG 10 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
10 December 2021, Sittwe

People across Myanmar staged a Silent Strike against the military regime on Friday, also marking Human Rights Day, which is celebrated internationally on December 10.

Ko Tay Za San, leader of the Mandalay General Strike, on Thursday had 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 on December 10.

Shops in much of the country were closed as part of the silent strike, with little traffic on the road, according to locals.

A company employee in Yangon said 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, which was held today as part of celebrations for Human Rights Day. It is understandable that the company does not set holidays, but the ban on workers’ rights is very serious,” the employee said.

Junta troops and municipal committees threatened shopkeepers on December 9 that they would shut down their shops if they took part in the Silent Strike, and that those who did not go out would be punished.

A CDM health worker said the people’s Silent Strike was “somewhat successful” and would have put more pressure on the military council than previous anti-coup protests.

“I think the people’s Silent Strike was more successful than previous protests. This Silent Strike is almost like kicking the dictator in the chest. There will be more violent strikes,” the CDM health worker added.

The Silent Strike called on people all over Myanmar to stay home from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 10. As part of the accompanying “Black Campaign,” people were 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.

Women Generation, a civil society group in Sittwe, organised a rose campaign in the Arakan State capital on December 10 to commemorate Human Rights Day.