Millions Of Myanmar Citizens Hold Anti-Military General Strike Today

Millions of Myanmar citizens prepare to stage a national general strike today. (Twitter / @ MyatNoe53231837)

JAKARTA - A national general strike in support of the National Disobedience Movement (CDM), against a military coup, is ready to be held by Myanmar citizens, Monday, February 22.

This national general strike was initiated after the regime through the military and police acted repressively against protesters in various regions over the past week.

Moreover, four people have died in the last week in a row since Friday 19 February, where Ma Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, a student protester who died after being shot in the head and treated for 10 days.

Then, on Saturday 20 January afternoon, two people were shot dead in the head and chest, after security forces stormed the shipyard in Maha Aung Myay Township, to break up a demonstration or national insurrection (CDM) by shipyard workers.

And most recently, on Saturday, nearing Sunday, February 21, a civilian who conducted night patrols in his residential area in the Shwe Pyithar Township, Yangon, was said to have been shot dead by the police while inspecting a suspicious van, as reported by The Irrawaddy.

Anti-military coup demonstration. (Twitter / @ David_Khaing_)

This will be the second-largest strike in modern Myanmar history, the 8 August 1988 or the Four Eight rallies, as millions of Myanmar citizens take to the streets against the socialist regime.

The strike action tomorrow will be labeled Revolution Five Two, because it will be held on February 22, 2021. Almost all business activities in the country of the Thousand Pagoda Country will cease operations because people join the strike. Activists and celebrities invite every citizen to join.

Many shop owners and market traders have been telling their customers since Saturday morning that they will be closed on Monday for the strike.

Myanmar's largest retail chain, City Mart Holding, as well as Thai wholesale center Makro in Yangon and several other popular local private businesses also announced on Sunday that their businesses would be closed on Monday.

A General Strike Committee involving 25 organizations from various fields including political parties, labor unions, student unions, farmers 'unions, religious groups, women's groups, monks, doctors, lawyers, and writers' groups were also formed on Saturday.

"The committee will form a local strike committee and organize the collective struggle of the people against military dictatorships across the country", committee member U Aung Moe Zaw, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party for the New Society (DPNS), told The Irrawaddy.

"We cannot collapse. If we step back at this point, the military regime will increase its crackdown. Therefore, I think it is important to unite among organizations and intensify strikes", he added.