ZERO IN: BURMA

Date: 18 February 2025

Time: 0230 Yangon / 0900 CET / 1100 Kampala / 1400 Lahore / 1500 Bangkok / 1600 HK / 1900 Melbourne / 2100 Auckland

Organized by the PCFS, IPMSDL, ILPS Asia Pacific, ILPS Commission 10, ILPS Commission 6, APNED, and APC under the Ground Zero campaign.

Register here: https://bit.ly/ZeroInBurma

Overview

Four years since its coup, the military government is scrambling to preserve itself and consolidate political power over Burma as people’s movements make significant strides in their resistance.

The Tatmadaw has periodically declared the country in a state of emergency to fully assert control and extend its rule amid civil war. Its seventh iteration, announced January 31, is claimed to prepare for the long-overdue elections – anticipated to be carried out in order to legitimize the military government.

As such, the crisis experienced by the Burmese people is likely to escalate further. The past four years alone saw more than 6,000 killed – three out of every 10 to be women and children – and at least 3.5 million displaced. Twenty million out of its 54 million population are in need of humanitarian assistance. Of the 15 million facing acute food insecurity this year, two million are at the brink of famine. The cost of basic food needs has spiked 30%.

Along with these figures are harrowing accounts of violations to human rights and the international humanitarian law, especially in areas where martial law was imposed. Villages have become targets of military retaliatory attacks, including airstrikes and artillery shelling. Civilians have been subjected to brutal and inhumane attacks, such as torture and sexual abuse. Burmese youth have been forced to render military service. 

The dire economy that has pushed half of the population below poverty line is exacerbated by environmental degradation, with the rise of state-backed illegal logging and mining operations. Agricultural productivity also declined due to the conflict and climate change impacts such as droughts and floodings.

Despite the military government’s aggressions, the people’s resistance is advancing – so much so that the Tatmadaw is only in control of 21% of Burma’s territory, albeit these being majority of the urban areas. And this is more than enough reason for the military government to intensify its attacks and its authoritarian rule.

All these in mind, the webinar ZERO IN: BURMA seeks to call attention to the current situation in Burma, contribute to raising international pressure against the Tatmadaw and demanding its accountability, and build solidarity in support of the people’s movements in the country.

Specific objectives

• Express our solidarity to the Burmese people against the Tatmadaw rule.
• Expose the economic crisis, human rights violations, and environmental destruction caused by the military fascist dictatorship, with emphasis on the impacts on the right to food and land.
• Highlight the developments of the people’s movements and their struggle for their liberation.