Statement of the ILPS Asia and the Pacific
The International League for Peoples’ Struggle – Asia and the Pacific (ILPS-AP) salutes the valiant resistance of the Burmese people against the fascist Tatmadaw (Royal Armed Forces of Myanmar). It was on February 1, 2021, when the Tatmadaw launched a coup d’état and seized power from a civilian government, declared a state of emergency and imposed a military rule against the Burmese people. Control and exploitation over natural resources of Burma were among the main objective of the coup, with Burma having metal ores, petroleum, natural gas, and significant deposits of precious and semiprecious stones (rubies, sapphires, diamonds and other gemstones). Other resources that can be found inside Burma are silver, lead, zinc, gold, tin, tungsten, barite, copper and major deposits of coal.
Despite the martial rule, the people of Burma were unfazed. The various democratic forces inside Burma, long have they been organizing and struggling, and have established a united front to directly oppose the rule of the Tatmadaw. The broad coalition against the Tatmadaw have proven successful, with reports stating that only half of Burma is under the control of the junta, with the rest liberated areas and controlled by the armed resistance and the broad coalition.
Before the coup, Burma was reeling from economic crisis, with unemployment levels continuously growing, but the coup made more workers lose their jobs, with unemployment levels jumping as much as 400%. The coup has further depressed wages; from 160USD/month in 2020 to a horrendous 40USD/month, which can only be considered a hunger wage. With the junta in power, exercise of labor rights is now lost along with the all the trappings of democracy.
Junta’s continuous aggressive aerial bombardment of the resistance forces has killed and displaced thousands of rural people, farmers and indigenous groups, along with women and children. The fear from the air raids and the continuous attacks against the rural communities have taken away rural people’s livelihood and have pushed them to hunger and further destitution.
We extend our unwavering support to the Burmese people fighting for an independent and democratic Burma. The freedom-loving people of Asia and the Pacific are all behind and supportive of the Burmese people in fighting and defeating the fascist Tatmadaw.
Long live the Resistance!
Down with the Tatmadaw!
Long live the Burmese People!
Signed
ILPS Asia and the Pacific
