Powered by the belief that every little action counts.
The Challenge
CDM workers are facing safety and livelihood challenges.
At the start of the coup, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was initially led by medical and health care workers, and has since attracted support from a broad range of professions. Bankers, lawyers, teachers and engineers from across the nation have demanded that the military return the elected government to power, and these civil servants refuse to return to work until this is done. It is believed that approximately 70% of all civil workers have joined the CDM campaign… and the number is still growing. However, these CDM workers are facing grave risks for taking this stand. In addition to losing their job and government-provided home, many are also arrested, beaten, and disappeared.
Our Response
Fundraising to help with their moving, new accommodation and food cost
By hearing and learning the needs of the CDM workers, the volunteers take quick actions to assist them with their relocation. In some cases, the CDM workers(often with their whole family) have to abandon their homes and flee at night. Part of our fund goes to provide simple living items, such as linen, pillows, toiletries, etc. While some CDM workers choose to go back to their home villages, others need to find accommodations in cities and hunt for new jobs. We have been offering financial support for renting their new living places and managing their daily living.
Our Stories
Mandalay railway CDM
The railway workers’ strike has been one of the most effective parts of CDM, as their noncompliance has seriously hindered the military’s ability to transport troops and other goods. Mandalay railway CDM workers were forced to leave their current living compound. We connected with someone in Mandalay who have been assisting these workers with relocation. And we were able to put this donation into his hands, which he immediately put to use by arranging the safe evacuation of ten workers, along with their families. They are now staying elsewhere, vowing not to return to work until the elected government is back.
Yangon railway CDM
On 9th March, police and soldiers raided Myanmar Railways' locomotive shed in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township in Yangon, arresting the staff who have joined CDM. Many CDM workers, along with their families, had to flee the compound immediately. Our contact in Yangon and her team helped some of these workers to settle into new living places with supply of daily necessaries and emergency fund.
You Are Saving Nurses
On 25 March 2021, we transferred some fund to a local vipassana meditator who is assisting CDM strikers. As one of her many duties, she is taking care of 30 nurses who have left their government posts in Mandalay and are currently in hiding, moving from one undisclosed location to another as they are being targeted and hunted by investigators. Your fund is helping them to move when necessary, as well as looking after their needs while they are in hiding.
The vipassana meditator who is ensuring that this donation reach these nurses has also been targeted, and now must also go deep into hiding. The yogi comes from a devout Buddhist family and has become a dedicated practitioner to the tradition of S.N. Goenka, and is now seeking a remote monastery where to hide for some time and take an extended self-course as well.
The news continues to get darker, but your donation fund is providing some moment of relief for those whose lives are now at serious peril.
Supporting Teachers
We have applied some of the donation fund to support five teachers from the Irrawaddy Division who have gone into deep hiding in order to continue their CDM strike and not return to work at the government schools. Originally, the group was supporting nine teachers, but through physical intimidation and threats against family members, four were forced to return to work. Following this, the remaining five went underground until safety could be found for them in a remote location.
Given the sensitivity of this particular group, we are unable to provide photos. The fund has gone to finding them a safe place as well as food and other supplies that they can live off of.
Thank you again for your support, and any further donation will allow us to provide increased safety to those continuing CDM.
Tamu Government Administration Department CDM
We transferred fund to support 22 Government Administration Department CDMers in Tamu, Sagaing State. These CDMers vows to only come back to their work when the military regime returns the power to the legally elected government.
Supporting Bankers in Sagaing
Our volunteering team helped with a donation to the CDM workers of Myanmar Economic Bank in Sagaing State. 19 workers have been on strike since the coup. They urgently need some financial support. Our donation could help them continue their effort.
Striking CDM railway workers in Myitnge
Myitnge is a small town located near Amarapura and on the Myitnge River. The striking railway workers are a key part of CDM, as they prevent the military from effectively moving supplies as needed. Myitnge itself is an important site in this regard, as it has historically been one of the main transport areas for passenger coaches as well as freight.
