The Durham Local Association of the UCU are appalled by the brutal actions of the military regime in Myanmar in attempting to repress the Civil Disobedience Movement resisting the 1 February coup.
As a trade union representing university staff, we are extending our solidarity to striking staff in Myanmar’s universities facing violent intimidation, the threat of eviction, and risk of arrest at the hands of the regime’s security forces. We add our voices to many others around the world in calling for the release of all those detained for protesting against the coup, including Prof Arkar Moe Thu of Yangon University and his colleagues arrested on 2 March.
We encourage our members to support the strike funds for Myanmar workers taking action against the coup. We will be working with our employer to do what they can support our Burmese students and colleagues in the UK and Myanmar, as well as demanding that they audit their investments and partnerships to sever any connections to the military.