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Yokota on Forced Labor (r)



Reply-To: "Timothy Hla"  <hlatim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

In message <9510211549.AA13502@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Conference "reg.burma" writes:
> From: Tom Brackett <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> >BRC -- J has just received the following information from a
> >very reliable source:
> 
> >During the UN University sponsored conference in Kobe, Japan
> >September 26-28, guest speaker Prof. Yozo Yokota, the United
> >Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma, was
> >asked about forced labor.  He answered that some people
> >opposed foreign investment in Burma, in part because of the
> >issue of forced labor.  He continued that he could understand
> >the objections many people had about doing business there at
> >this time, but he pointed out that the country is terribly poor and
> >the government does not have much money.  He suggested that
> >if there were more investment so that the government had more
> >money at its disposal, they might be able to pay laborers,
> >perhaps not a lot, but at least something.  This might eliminate
> >the need to use forced, unpaid labor for government projects.
> 
> How about spending a billion or so less on arms? Wouldn't that help?


Timothy Hla, Ph.D.
Scientist II/ Associate Professor
Department of Molecular Biology
Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross
15601 Crabbs Branch Way
Rockville, MD 20855
ph: 301-738-0567
fx: 301-738-0465
e-mail: hlatim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx