On EC's Hearings on Forced Labor in

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Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 04:12:26 -0800 (PST)
Subject: On EC's Hearings on Forced Labor in Burma

[forwarded message]


Att. Mr. Strider
Date: 13 March 1996
Re: EU GSP HEARINGS ON FORCED LABOUR

Text:

Please find enclosed a notice just produced by David Arnott. In view of 
E-mail problems in Geneva, he requests that you kindly put this message 
on REG.BURMA.
I would very much appreciate it if you could confirm receipt, by phone on 
Thursday (+32.2.224.02.01), fax 32.2.224.02.97 or E-mail (att. Janek) at 
the following address: ICFTU@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks very much in advance
Janek Kuczkiewicz
Dept. of Trade Union Rights,
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

QUOTE TEXT
                             URGENT MESSAGE 

     from David Arnott, Burma Peace Foundation (now based in Geneva)

ACT QUICKLY IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S
HEARINGS ON FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA

The European Commission's inquiry on Burma, a very important step
in increasing pressure on the Burmese military, involves a public
hearing at which groups and individuals can present testimony.
The hearing will be some time after the 20th March. As of 11
March 1996, only the organisation which initiated the complaint
which led to the inquiry has applied to take part in the
hearings. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 20 MARCH.

If you are an individual or organisation with knowledge of forced
labour in Burma, and would like to testify to the hearing, you
should fax immediately to the Commission: 

1) Asking to be heard, 

2) Describing your knowledge of forced labour in Burma

3) Enclosing whatever documents you think relevant and have ready
to go (further documents can be brought to the hearing)

4) Asking if funds are available to cover the costs of coming to
the hearing.

* People who take part in the hearing can bring any amount of
documentation to the hearing, which may be some weeks or months
after the 20th March. 

* Organisations may also propose to the Commission that they
bring individual victims of forced labour to testify at the
hearing (specify how many and if possible, profile). 

* People who do not have enough time to mail documents to 
Brussels to meet the deadline should fax the Commission saying
that the documents are on their way and, if possible, give the
documents to a delegation of the Commission, eg c/o the European
Union in Bangkok, New York  or Washington DC.

* Photo and video material may also be sent or brought

* The Commission has not yet decided what other forms the inquiry
will take, and in their communications people should suggest
possible options, for instance a fact-finding mission to the
region.

Please inform the Burma Peace Foundation [Fax (+41-22) 738 9419]
and the ICFTU (Dept of Trade Union Rights) [Fax (+32-2) 224 0297
if you have applied to take part in the hearing, or if you have
submitted documentation (specify what, to avoid duplication by
other groups) 

Address: European Commission,
         Directorate General 1B, External Relations,
         (Directorate 1B, D, Division 3)
         Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049, Brussels, Belgium  

Fax: (+32-2) 299 1047

UNQUOTE
End