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AFP-Myanmar steps up criticism of I



Subject: AFP-Myanmar steps up criticism of ILO expulsion

Myanmar steps up criticism of ILO expulsion
YANGON, June 18 (AFP) - Myanmar on Friday rejected British accusations it
was still using slave labour in another angry reaction to its de-facto
expulsion from the International Labour Organisation.
The ILO suspended Myanmar's membership on Thursday accusing it of the
widespread use of forced labour, provoking an immediate and furious response
from the military government.

On Friday, the government followed up by blaming the former colonial power
Britain for a 1907 law which allowed the government to call on citizens to
carry out public duties.

In a statement, the government said it had recently repealed sections of the
law, the British Towns and Village Act.

"It is unfortunate that a British delegate Mr. Brett came up with a
statement accusing Myanmar of still employing slave labour at the end of the
20th century," said the statement.

British ILO delegate Bill Brett had said the expulsion represented "the last
chance for Myanmar to understand that the world community cannot put up with
slavery at the end of the 20th century."

Myanmar Thursday accused the West of using "biased" reports of forced labour
as an excuse to intervene in its politics.

In an angry statement, the foreign ministry described the ILO move as a
"deplorable and unscrupulous" action by countries who wanted to "interfere
and meddle in the internal affairs of Myanmar."

"It is most regrettable that such an august assembly like the ILO should
fall victim to the machinations and political tricks of Western nations
particularly Britain," it said.

"It demonstrates the complete disregard of these countries to the rules and
procedures of the international organisations as well as the dignity of
these international fora."

ILO delegates voted in an unprecedented move Thursday to de-facto expel
Myanmar, accusing it of the widespread use of forced labour.

"This is as isolated as a country can get in an organization which does not
have a mechanism for expulsion," ILO spokesman John Doohan said.

The action came a day after US President Bill Clinton in Geneva slammed the
military junta, which is locked in a bitter struggle with democracy leader
Aung San Suu Kyi, for "flagrant" human rights abuses.


Myanmar, which has been a member since 1948, claimed the ILO reports on
Myanmar were "one sided and biased," and based on the "unfounded allegations
made by dissidents and insurgent groups."

It claimed the West was using the ILO as a way of imposing its "values and
systems" on the country.

"While paying lip service to workers' rights they are making politically
motivated allegations with the sole intention of tarnishing the image of the
Myanmar government and people."

An ILO commission of inquiry in a report issued last August found compulsory
labour in Myanmar was practiced in a "systematic manner with a total
disregard for the human dignity, safety and health" of the people.

The ILO has blasted the Myanmar authorities for failing to amend any laws in
line with commission recommendations, propose any new laws or take steps to
punish those exacting forced labour.

The resolution said it was "appalled" by the status quo in Myanmar, where
citizens were coerced into working on infrastructure projects and serving as
porters for the army.

The resolution said: "The attitude and behaviour of the government of
Myanmar are grossly incompatible with the conditions and principles
governing membership of the organization."