By Hsu Latt Phyu - Aug 04, 2025

STUM (Solidarity Trade Unions of Myanmar) leader Daw Myo Myo Aye and her daughter and including around 10 members of the office team have been detained in Shwepyithar Township, Yangon Region, with no communication or access, raising serious concerns for their safety. Labour rights advocates are calling for their immediate release.

Daw Myo Myo Aye, the leader of STUM, was reportedly arrested by around 10 plainclothes officials accompanied by the ward administrator on the night of July 25 around 9:30 PM. Seven more members of the office team were subsequently arrested on the night of July 28.

It is also reported that two more individuals have been detained, but their exact whereabouts and the reason for their detention remain unknown.

“We’ve heard that 10 people have been taken, but some are still missing, and others are in hiding. Right now, we don’t even know under what charges they were arrested. There’s been no official statement on why they were taken. Families have lost all contact, and the office has been locked down. It’s now extremely difficult to get in touch. At this point, we don’t know whether they’re being detained because of their labour rights work, or whether it’s related to the recent wave of protests. We are deeply concerned about their health and safety. We want to call for their immediate release,” said one labour rights advocate.

Daw Myo Myo Aye was previously arrested by the military council after the 2021 coup on April 15 under Section 505(a) and sentenced to six months in prison.

In addition, MICS-TUsF (Myanmar Industries, Crafts and Services Trade Unions Federation) General Secretary Ko Thet Hnin Aung has also been detained by the military council since June 2021. He has now been imprisoned for four years without being released.

His family and lawyer have been denied visitation, and the federation reports that there are serious concerns due to lack of communication, solitary confinement, and possible mistreatment inside the prison.