Earlier this
year, Mick Bowman of the UNISON, Northumberland County Branch visited South
East Asia with other Trade Unionists.
Our branch
UNISON Northumberland County Branch have a long established link with the
Burmese Trade Unions.
The Burmese
Unions are one of the main bodies who have been fighting for democracy and
justice for decades. We have supported their struggles over the last 10 years.
For years,
trade unions have been affected by the events in Burma and they were labelled terrorist
organisations.
Those who
engaged in trade union activity were liable to torture or execution. Mick said
"being in that country was an amazing and fantastic experience. When we
were there we met with the trade union group, the federation of Union Kawthalei
which is for Karen people.
The people in
the group were at great risk of personal sacrifice for giving their lives to
the trade union struggle. Some had been subjected to terrible atrocities. Among
them Paw Gay, a woman from the Karen state who was forcibly removed from her
family.
For 20 years,
she lived among 400,000 displaced Burmese people in the eastern regions and saw
members of her family slaughtered during fierce battles. Eventually she fled to
Thailand where she lived in a refugee camp before devoting her life being a
paramedic with Medical Backpackers.
The
organisation "smuggles" medical supplies across the border to help
those exiled from their homes." Speaking about Aung San Suu Kyi Mick said
"She's an inspirational woman and a powerful character, but her story is
not a typical in that there are others who have been subjected to violence and
forced to relocate.
It's important
that people involve themselves in Burma at this time when it's in a period of
change. For that process to continue it's vital that the trade unions play an
important role because they have got links with the workers.
They were at the
forefront of the human rights movement and providing welfare services.
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