AFP-Myanmar at "forefront of women'

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Subject: AFP-Myanmar at "forefront of women's rights": junta

Myanmar at "forefront of women's rights": junta
BANGKOK, July 21 (AFP) - Myanmar is at the forefront of protecting the
rights of women and children, the junta's powerful First Secretary
Lieutenant General Khin Nyunt said in a statement released Wednesday.
He said the junta, which is accused around the world of exploiting slave
labour, was ensuring that the country's strong sectors were used to "render
assistance to the weak."

"Myanmar is keeping in the forefront of child rights, women's affairs and
social development matters," the reclusive Khin Nyunt was quoted as saying
in a daily propaganda sheet.

"The government is implementing programmes which will enable the strong
sectors to render assistance to the weak ones to ensure proportionate
progress in all spheres."

The International Labour Organization (ILO) last month voted to de facto
expel Myanmar from its ranks for its pervasive use of forced labour.

Workers' and employers' groups were the most enthusiastic backers of the
resolution, the first of its kind in the ILO's history.

But Khin Nyunt said the junta's "social objectives" were evident by the
levels of assistance provided to the country's 670 day care centers for
children, 131 "youth rehabilitation centers" and 127 orphanages.

He said the country of more than 48 million people, including many diverse
ethnic minorities, had eight state-run training schools for girls, four
vocational schools for women and 30 homes for the aged.

The junta, known as the State Peace and Development Council, is repeatedly
accused of gross human rights abuses including the use of forced labour,
child labour and the rape of ethnic minority women by soldiers.

Amnesty International said in a report released last month that Myanmar's
military is slaughtering scores of ethnic minority farmers and forcing
hundreds of thousands off their land.

"Many have been killed, others tortured, and thousands have fled to
neighbouring countries," it said.

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


A ILO resolution said it was "appalled" by the situation in Myanmar, where
citizens were forced to slave on infrastructure projects and to serve as
porters for the army.

The commission of enquiry report, compiled with the help of 250 witness
accounts, stated there was "abundant evidence" showing the "pervasive" use
of forced labour, particularly women, children, the eldery and those unfit
for work, which was almost never compensated.

The junta denies all the allegations, saying labour is often contributed
voluntarily.