On the morning of May 19, the Hpakant Mobile Strike Committee led a public demonstration in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, calling for international support to take action against the violent military council under Article 33 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Protesters carried banners reading ‘Vote ILO Article 33 to Save Lives’ during the peaceful demonstration.
The protest was organized ahead of the upcoming ILO Conference to be held at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 2 to 13. The people of Hpakant are demanding action under Article 33 to stop the military council’s aerial attacks, violence against innocent civilians, forced military service, recruitment of child soldiers, and other human rights violations. The demonstrators emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to protect civilian lives and fundamental rights.
The protesters called for measures to prevent the military council from purchasing weapons, blocking their financial flows, and protecting labor and human rights. They specifically highlighted the need to stop crimes being committed against women and children. The demonstration urged international delegates attending the ILO Conference to vote in favor of the strongest possible actions against the military council to protect the lives, properties, and welfare of Myanmar’s people. The protesters stressed that the international community’s support through the ILO mechanism is crucial for ending the daily atrocities committed by the military council, including the bombing of civilian areas, forced conscription, and systematic human rights violations throughout the country.
