Guest contributor

James Shwe

After the International Labor Organization (ILO) invoked Article 33 against Myanmar’s military junta—a move so rare it’s practically a collector’s item—the generals in Naypyidaw reached for their well-worn script: “It’s all politically motivated!” 

Never mind the mountain of evidence of forced labor, conscription, and union-busting. For the junta, every censure is just another foreign plot, never a reflection of their own actions.

The ILO’s “politically motivated” crime: Caring about forced labor

The ILO’s 113th International Labor Conference made history by holding the Myanmar junta accountable for grave and persistent violations of workers’ and human rights. The resolution calls on governments, employers, and unions worldwide to review their dealings with the junta, halt support, and consider sanctions, all in response to its relentless campaign of forced labor, violent repression, and jailing of trade unionists.

The junta’s Labor Ministry, undeterred by facts, declared the resolution “politically motivated” and insisted it would have “no effect” on employers, workers, or businesses in Myanmar. In a flourish of Orwellian logic, they promised to “cooperate with the international community” without “compromising national sovereignty”—as if forced labor were a sovereign right.

Global reactions: From outrage to eye-rolling

United States: Sanctions and strong words

• Government: The U.S. immediately welcomed the ILO’s move, reiterating calls for targeted sanctions and urging the international community to cut off the junta’s access to arms, aviation fuel, and financial resources. The State Department labeled the junta’s abuses “crimes against humanity” and called for the immediate release of all political prisoners.
• Business Community: U.S. companies have largely withdrawn from Myanmar, wary of legal and reputational risks.
• People: U.S. civil society and advocacy groups continue to support Myanmar’s democracy movement and call for even tougher action.

European Union: Applauding accountability

• Government: The E.U. hailed the ILO resolution as a “historic step” and called for “concrete action” to isolate the junta, including reviewing all business and diplomatic ties. E.U. officials emphasized that the resolution is not against the people of Myanmar, but against the junta.
• Business community: European businesses have faced mounting pressure to divest from Myanmar, with many already pulling out or freezing investments.
• People: European civil society has been vocal in supporting Myanmar’s resistance, with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and labor unions amplifying the call for accountability.

United Kingdom: Leading the chorus

• Government: The U.K. government, a co-sponsor of U.N. resolutions on Myanmar, praised the ILO’s action and reaffirmed its own sanctions on junta-linked entities. British officials called for a coordinated international response and increased support for Myanmar’s civil society.
• Business community: U.K. firms have largely exited the Myanmar market, and those remaining face intense scrutiny.
• People: The British public and advocacy groups remain active in supporting Myanmar’s democracy and labor rights.

China & Russia: The junta’s loyal cheerleaders

• Governments: China and Russia, perennial veto-wielders at the U.N., blocked a 2022 Security Council statement criticizing Myanmar’s “limited progress” on human rights. China even demanded replacing “limited” with “slow,” because why admit failure when you can change the wording?
• Business community: Chinese firms continue supplying jet fuel and arms, because nothing fuels democracy like a good profit margin. Russian energy deals? Just another day at the oligarch office.
• People: Censored Chinese netizens whisper support for Myanmar’s resistance—when they’re not busy being arrested for memes.

India: The abstaining neighbor

• Government: India abstained from U.N. resolutions, lamenting the lack of “consultation” with neighbors. Translation: “We’re not convinced sanctions work, but we’ll keep buying Myanmar’s beans.”
• Business community: Indian businesses tread lightly, balancing trade with the junta and fears of border instability. Priorities!
• People: Sympathy for Myanmar’s plight simmers, but security concerns trump solidarity.

Japan: The reluctant samaritan

• Government: Urged by the U.N. to “step up,” Japan prefers dialogue and aid. Is it their 2023 statement? A masterclass in diplomatic waffling: “We believe in Myanmar’s progress… maybe?”
• Business community: Some firms exit; others linger, hoping the junta’s “volunteer” workforce stays off X (formerly known as Twitter).

Australia: The sanctions enthusiast

• Government: Imposed sanctions on junta entities Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), because nothing says “stop the violence” like freezing oligarchs’ yacht money.
• Business Community: Most pulled out, avoiding the ethical quagmire of funding war crimes.
• People: Burmese-Australians protest, while the public demands stronger action.

ASEAN: The divided house of inaction

• Governments: The Five-Point Consensus—ASEAN’s peace plan—is now a punchline. Cambodia and Laos shield the junta; Malaysia and Indonesia push for reform. Progress? As likely as a free and fair election in Naypyidaw.
• Business community: Split between opportunists and the ethically conflicted.
• People: Protests flare in Thailand and Malaysia, where solidarity outweighs geopolitical paralysis.

The Junta’s playbook—Deny, deflect, repeat

1. Deny everything: Forced labor? “Volunteerism!” Conscription? “Patriotic job creation!”
2. Blame the ILO: The resolution was adopted “without impartiality”—unlike the junta’s impartial torture of trade unionists.
3. Invent progress: The 2023 cybersecurity law banning Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)? A bold step toward “digital sovereignty” (and silencing dissent).
4. Play the victim: The world is mean, the U.N. is biased, and the National Unity Government (NUG) is just a bunch of “terrorists” with a shadow labor ministry.

The people vs. the junta—A battle of wills

While the generals scribble denial statements, Myanmar’s people resist:

• Workers organize strikes despite threats of arrest.
• The NUG lobbied the ILO, celebrating the resolution as a “victory”—a term the junta reserves for its imaginary reforms.
• Civil society documents atrocities, even as the junta bombs schools and hospitals.

The emperor’s new clothes, military edition

The junta’s cry of “politically motivated” is the diplomatic equivalent of a toddler denying cookie theft with crumbs on their face. The ILO’s resolution, backed by 119 nations, exposes the regime’s crimes to a world increasingly weary of its theatrics. 

Yet, as China and Russia veto accountability, India hesitates, and the West tightens sanctions, the junta clings to its narrative—a narrative as flimsy as its conscript-built barracks.

In the end, the joke’s on the generals: history remembers tyrants not for their excuses, but their downfall. And for Myanmar’s people, that day can’t come soon enough.

Final thought: If the junta spent half as much energy improving labor conditions as it does crafting denial statements, Myanmar might actually see progress. But where’s the fun in that?

James Shwe is a Myanmar democracy activist in the U.S. and is a member of the advocacy groups Free Myanmar and the Los Angeles Myanmar Movement. He has been trying to organize and motivate the Myanmar diaspora to advocate for democracy in Myanmar.

DVB publishes a diversity of opinions that does not reflect DVB editorial policy. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our stories: [email protected]