"Call for the Release of Burmese Union Leader Myo Myo Aye & STUM Activists", 31 July 2025

We, the undersigned, call on the Burmese authorities to surface and release Solidarity Trade Union of Myanmar (STUM) leader and human rights defender Myo Myo Aye and other STUM union members, including Myo Aye’s daughter, Chue Thwel, who were arbitrarily arrested and detained under unknown charges and without due process.

…, Myo Myo Aye, aged 56, was arrested at her home in Shwe Pyi TharTownship, Yangon. The arrest was carried out under distressing circumstances, where the authorities forced Myo Myo Aye’s son to kneel and pointed guns to his head in front of both her and her husband, to demand Myo Aye hand over her digital devices. After raiding her room, the authorities took her away in handcuffs, along with her belongings, money, and household registration document, which contains the list of residents in the household. At the same time, the authorities also raided STUM’s office, where Chue Thwel, aged 27, was present. About a dozen people in plain clothes, including the Shwe Pyi Thar ward administrator, forcibly entered the office and confiscated laptops and mobile phones.

As the news about the arrest spread, …, Chue Thwel briefly mentioned Myo Myo Aye’s arrest on social media and urged the media and the public to respect their privacy. The next evening …, the authorities also arrested Chue Thwel and three other STUM staff members. Another STUM staff member was arrested ... The authorities also locked up and sealed all of STUM’s three offices, including an office of STUM’s affiliate organisation, Solidarity of Township Garment Labour Organisation.

To date, we do not know where human rights defender Myo Myo Aye, her daughter, and the other detainees are being illegally held, or the reasons for their detention…

We call on the international community and governments to take action, and to advocate for the safe return and protection of Myo Myo Aye, Chue Thwel, and other detained STUM staff members…