Four years of Valiant Resistance of the Burmese People Against the Tatmadaw Rule!

Statement of the ILPS Asia and the Pacific Regional Committee

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). On February 1, 2021, 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 was among the main objectives of the coup. Burma is endowed with metal ores, petroleum, natural gas, and significant deposits of precious and semiprecious stones (rubies, sapphires, diamonds and other gemstones). Other mineral resources found in Burma are silver, lead, zinc, gold,  tin, tungsten, barite, copper and major deposits of coal. 

Despite martial rule, the people of Burma are unfazed. The various democratic forces inside Burma, which had long been organizing and fighting, establish a united front directly opposed to the Tatmadaw. The broad coalition against the Tatmadaw have proven successful, with reports stating that only half of Burma is under the junta’s control, with the rest of the country liberated and controlled by the armed resistance and the broad coalition.

Before the coup, Burma was reeling from economic crisis, with unemployment levels continuously growing. The coup made more workers lose their jobs. Unemployment levels jumped as high as 400%. Wages have declined since the coup, compare 2020 with wages around 160USD/month, but as of 2024, it is merely around 40USD/month. The exercise of labor rights is suppressed. Gone away are all the trappings of democracy when the junta took to power.

The junta continues aerial bombardment of areas where the resistance forces are fighting. These have killed and displaced thousands of rural people, farmers and indigenous groups, including women and children. The fear from the air raids and the continued attacks against the rural communities have prevented the rural people from accessing their 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 Regional Committee