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A Burmese teacher activist and four other trade unionists were arrested earlier this month after taking part in the historic first National Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB).

Zaw Myint Aung, a teacher from South Okkalapa, was arrested on 1 April. She and four other other trade unionists were taken from their homes in Rangoon after participating in the FTUB Congress as delegates. Besides Aung, the other detained trade unionists included three textile factory workers and one health care worker. They were all held without any explanation and without being formally charged.

Fortunately they were released on 10 April following protests from the International Trade Union Federation (ITUC) and several other unions, as well as strong urging from the ILO.

The ITUC’s appeal to global labour expressed the concern that the five may have been tortured while being detained. In its letter to Burmese military junta leader, General Than Shwe, the ITUC called FTUB a legitimate labour organization which was facing yet another serious violation of fundamental rights by Burma’s military rulers. ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder said: “This latest act demonstrates once again the determination of the junta to block any form of democratic activity and to clamp down on any form type of dissent from its iron rule.”

FTUB General Secretary Maung Maung said: “The fact that our members were arrested just after returning from participating in the 1st National Congress of the FTUB speaks for itself.” The three-day FTUB Congress was held in a border area inside Burma, and the fact that courageous Burmese trade unionists conducted democratic proceedings inside the highly repressive country is historic.