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ICFTU RESPONSE TO ELECTION OF BURME
- Subject: ICFTU RESPONSE TO ELECTION OF BURME
- From: darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000 14:01:00
ICFTU ONLINE...
Election of Burmese official as Chair of major
UN Committee a ?slap in the face for human and
union rights? says global union 12/09/00
Brussels September 11 2000 (ICFTU OnLine
185/2000): ?The rewarding of Burma by giving one of
its senior diplomats the Chair of a major United Nations
Committee sends the pariah regime a signal that the
UN is not concerned about the country?s persistent
use of slave labour, and that this can continue free
from official sanction,? said the ICFTU General
Secretary Bill Jordan today (September 11).
The ICFTU said that the election of Mya Than, Burma?s
permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, as
Chairperson of the UN General Assembly?s First
Committee (of Disarmament and international Security)
sends a message to the world that despite the
condemnation by UN bodies, including the UN
Commission on Human Rights and the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) because of its violations of
international human rights standards, Burma has
received the UN?s official blessing.
?We find it extraordinary that while on the one hand a
number of UN bodies adopt strongly-worded
Resolutions condemning Burma?s military junta?s human
rights record, on the other the Organisation agrees to
the election of the same regime?s senior official as
Chairman to another section of the UN. Does this mean
that the UN ignores the recommendations of its own
bodies? Or does it mean that the Member States, who
after all elected Mr. Mya Than to the General Assembly
post, pay no attention to what they decide in other
UN meetings ?? asked the ICFTU today.
After strong condemnation of Burma?s military regime
at the International Labour Conference in June, the
ILO governing body is expected to adopt a series of
measures this November towards Burma, including
calling on all relevant UN agencies ?to reconsider,
within their terms of reference? and, if appropriate, to
cease as soon as possible any activity that could have
the effect of directly or indirectly abetting the practice
of forced or compulsory labour?.
The election of the Burmese representative in the
same week that the Burmese military government has
been condemned internationally for its continual
harassment of The National League for Democracy,
and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi is all the more bizarre,
said the ICFTU.
In addition, says the ICFTU, Mya Than cannot be
considered blameless in the military regime?s history of
enslaving the population, as he has held a number of
senior positions in his country?s government.
On Wednesday, September 13, the ICFTU will be
launching its Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights
Violations. In considering the situation in Burma, the
Report says ?There are no trade union rights in Burma.
The repressive military regime cracks down ruthlessly
on any independent trade union activity. In February
(1999) it launched mortar shells at a village that was
to host a trade union event on human rights?.
The ICFTU has written to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary
General stating its strong opposition to the election of
Mr Mya Than, and requesting Mr. Annan to bring its
views to the attention of all UN Member States.