Burma slaughtering ethnic farmers:

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Subject: Burma slaughtering ethnic farmers: Amnesty

Burma slaughtering ethnic farmers: Amnesty
Wednesday 30 June, 1999 (10:33am AEST) 
  
ABC
  The human rights movement, Amnesty International, claims Burma's military
is slaughtering scores of ethnic minority farmers and forcing hundreds of
thousands off their land.

In a 50-page report, Amnesty says the ruling military junta keeps ethnic
minorities like "chickens in a basket", forcing many to flee the country or
face slave labour and torture.

The report is based on interviews with Burmese refugees in Thailand.

It focuses on three remote border states, home to Karen, Shan and Karenni
ethnic groups and says forced labour in all seven ethnic minority states
continues at a high level.

The report accuses the military of systematic human rights abuses of
civilians in its effort to suppress armed ethnic dissent.

Amnesty International is urging Burma's partners in ASEAN, the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations, to address the issue at its ministerial meeting
in Singapore next month and to develop a human rights strategy.