The Trains Are Not Running
One of the more important sectors of the Civil Disobedience Movement has been the involvement of the railway workers, whose absence on the job has single-handedly hampered the military’s attempts to transport their goods throughout the country. Thanks to your generous contribution, we have been able to support various groups connected to the railways throughout the country. Following is a translated message by one leader, who thanks donors for their support.
“I am a senior engineer for rail-road and construction. There are about 40 people from our local department who joined CDM right after the coup. Despite all the threats and dangers, my team under my supervision refused to return to service. We have been threatened of arrest and imprisonment, but we stayed strong and firm on our ground.
There has been an announcement that my juniors and general workers are being removed from their positions and services since October 2021, but the senior staffs including myself are not included in the list so far. We are staying out of their sights, and it means we cannot go out to work and earn money.
On the other hand, I am looking after the 40 people who were under my supervision and are now removed and cannot find a proper job. Sometimes, we receive small donations of money or food items from individuals, but Better Burma has been the only source of regular support for us.
We have families who rely on us, and some are with small children or old parents so it is more challenging for them in these situations. Sometimes, we could work for our friends on their farms or household maintenance jobs but this is not regular or consistence. People under my care cannot work in the construction firms for fear of being exposed of their identities.
Now the military government announced that they will evict the slums around the railway station where many of our staffs and their families have lived for many years. It is a huge pressure for them to find shelters now. Some said they would choose to go back to their relatives in remote villages if they were removed from the place.”