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AI newsservice - forced labour

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url: http://www.angelfire.com/al/homepageas/index.html
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News Service 160/98
AI INDEX ASA: 16/22/98


MYANMAR: Time to end forced labour


Amnesty International today welcomed this week's hard hitting report by =
the International Labour Organization (ILO) into forced labour in =
Myanmar. The human rights organization called on the Burmese government =
to cease the widespread ill-treatment of forced labourers, and urged =
governments and companies investing in Myanmar [Burma] to ensure that =
their operations do not lead to human rights violations.

	"Amnesty International and other NGOs have for a long time campaigned =
against the killings, ill-treatment and misery inflicted by the army's =
use of forced labour in Myanmar, " the organisation said.  "Now, with =
the publication of this report, companies and governments investing in =
the country -- many in projects with the army as partners -- can no =
longer claim ignorance of the situation on the ground."=20

	"The Directors of these companies must seriously examine their =
operations in Myanmar to ensure that their presence is not contributing =
to human rights violations. Consumers, shareholders, investment trusts =
and members of the NGOs and the public will hold them to account for =
their actions."

	The ILO formally established a Commission of Inquiry into forced labour =
in Myanmar  in March 1997, following a complaint by the International =
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU). This Commission of Inquiry, =
which is the strongest legal action that the ILO can take against a =
member state, found the government in breach of ILO Convention 29 which =
forbids the "exaction of labour under the menace of a penalty, from =
residents who (had) not offered themselves voluntarily..."

	Amnesty International has documented and reported on forced labour by =
the tatmadaw (Burmese army) for more than 10 years, and interviewed =
hundreds of victims of the practice.   As a result of the dramatic =
increase in the size of the army over the last decade, hundreds of =
thousands of civilians have been forced to work under very harsh =
conditions.  =20

	The majority of victims are from ethnic minorities, who make up one =
third of the population in Myanmar.  They include the Karen, Mon, Shan, =
Rohingya, Karenni, and Chin people, who have been rounded up as part of  =
counter-insurgency activities by the tatmadaw against  armed opposition =
groups.=20

	During these offensives, soldiers have seized thousands of villagers to =
act as porters -- carrying weaponry, munitions and provisions for the =
army. Hundreds have been either killed or left for dead if they try to =
escape or cannot perform their duties due to old age or illness such as =
malaria. =20


	As well as portering,  the army forces civilians from all ethnic groups =
to work on roads, dams, quarries, and railways throughout the country, =
all in the name of "development" for the people.  Villagers of all ages, =
including women and girls are forced to work long hours in sometimes =
dangerous conditions without pay, adequate food or medical care.=20

	Those unable to perform their duties to the satisfaction of the army =
face beatings and deprival of food. Many have been killed or have died =
from neglect and ill-treatment, and those who are forced to labour on a =
regular basis cannot tend their farms or otherwise earn their living.

	Amnesty International welcomed the report as being a very significant =
tool for governments, the United Nations, non-governmental organizations =
(NGOs), trade unionists, and individuals around the world to use to =
raise awareness of the dire human rights situation in Myanmar.

	"Amnesty International, along with the International Confederation of =
Free Trade Unions, welcomes this report which we see as an extremely =
significant statement by the international labour movement on forced =
labour in Myanmar. It highlights the importance of International human =
rights organisations, national human rights organisations working =
together with trade unions in order to combat these practices," the =
organization said.

*************************************************************************=

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

For broadcast use, AI  has available b-roll including exclusive images =
of forced labour in Myanmar, interviews with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, =
Pierre San, (Secretary General of Amnesty International) and Bill Jordan =
(General Secretary of the ICFTU).=20
To receive a copy, or to arrange an interviewwith AI s Myanmar =
researcher, please call:
Mark Ogle + 44 171 413 5729=20
Jennifer King	+ 44 171 413 5977


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