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Mizzima: ILO mission to have full a



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                ILO mission to have full access in Burma

September 2, 2001; Durban (South Africa)
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)

The authorities  in Burma have assured  the International Labor
Organisation (ILO) that  it will have the  freedom of access to  the
places and people it want to  meet during the visit of its high  level
delegation to the military run-country,   according  to   ILO
Director   General  Mr.   Juan  Somavia.

Without mentioning the exact date, the ILO Director General today once
again confirmed that  a high level delegation of ILO is  visiting Burma
soon as "a mission  of  objective assessment"  on  the  forced labor
situation in  the country.

"Through a  series of the decisions taken by  the Conference and in
dialogue with the government of Burma/Myanmar, the government changed
its legislation in relation  to forced labour. But the governing body
of ILO made the point that unless  there was possibility of an
objective assessment of the impact and the  implications of  the
legislation, it  was really difficult  for the issue  to be  taken up
in positive  way. After  some conversation  with the government of
Myanmar, it was decided that a mission of objective assessment would go
there," said Mr. Somavia.

Mr. Juan  Somavia was responding to a question of  a journalist in the
press briefing this afternoon in Durban.

He is  leading the ILO delegation to the  World Conference Against
Racism in Durban, South Africa.

"I think  that the high level  quality of the mission  will ensure that
they will observe,  they will know what to ask, they will  know what to
look, and we  will have  a good  report back.  And the  authorities have
given  us the assurance that  they will  have freedom of  access to
whatever  they want to talk to, and wherever they want to go."

The  military  government in  Burma  is  currently under  pressure from
the International Labour  Organisation to  end the use  of forced
labour  in the country.  The  international labour  rights  groups  and
opposition  Burmese groups have accused the military government of using
the forced labor widely in Burma. Meanwhile, an  informed source in
Rangoon said that the government has  been taking actions  against some
military officers who  committed the forced labor  but it is not willing
to make  any public announcement on that effect.

The ILO  mission is composed of  Sir Ninian Stephen, former
Governor-General of  Australia;  Nieves  Roldan-Confessor,  former
Philippines  Secretary  of Labour  and  Employment;  Mr.  Kulatilaka
Arthanayake  Parinda  Ranashinghe, former  Chief Justice  of Sri Lanka;
and Mr.  Jerzy Makarczyk of  Poland, a judge with the European Court of
Human Rights.


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<center><b><font color="#000099"><font size=+1>ILO mission to have full
access in Burma</font></font></b></center>

<p><i><font color="#CC0000">September 2, 2001; Durban (South Africa)</font></i>
<br><i><font color="#CC0000">Mizzima News Group <a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>(www.mizzima.com)</a></font></i>
<p>The authorities&nbsp; in Burma have assured&nbsp; the International
Labor Organisation (ILO) that&nbsp; it will have the&nbsp; freedom of access
to&nbsp; the places and people it want to&nbsp; meet during the visit of
its high&nbsp; level delegation to the military run-country,&nbsp;&nbsp;
according&nbsp; to&nbsp;&nbsp; ILO&nbsp; Director&nbsp;&nbsp; General&nbsp;
Mr.&nbsp;&nbsp; Juan&nbsp; Somavia.
<p>Without mentioning the exact date, the ILO Director General today once
again confirmed that&nbsp; a high level delegation of ILO is&nbsp; visiting
Burma soon as "a mission&nbsp; of&nbsp; objective assessment"&nbsp; on&nbsp;
the&nbsp; forced labor&nbsp; situation in&nbsp; the country.
<p>"Through a&nbsp; series of the decisions taken by&nbsp; the Conference
and in dialogue with the government of Burma/Myanmar, the government changed
its legislation in relation&nbsp; to forced labour. But the governing body&nbsp;
of ILO made the point that unless&nbsp; there was possibility of an&nbsp;
objective assessment of the impact and the&nbsp; implications of&nbsp;
the legislation, it&nbsp; was really difficult&nbsp; for the issue&nbsp;
to be&nbsp; taken up&nbsp; in positive&nbsp; way. After&nbsp; some conversation&nbsp;
with the government of Myanmar, it was decided that a mission of objective
assessment would go there," said Mr. Somavia.
<p>Mr. Juan&nbsp; Somavia was responding to a question of&nbsp; a journalist
in the press briefing this afternoon in Durban.
<p>He is&nbsp; leading the ILO delegation to the&nbsp; World Conference
Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
<p>"I think&nbsp; that the high level&nbsp; quality of the mission&nbsp;
will ensure that they will observe,&nbsp; they will know what to ask, they
will&nbsp; know what to look, and we&nbsp; will have&nbsp; a good&nbsp;
report back.&nbsp; And the&nbsp; authorities have given&nbsp; us the assurance
that&nbsp; they will&nbsp; have freedom of&nbsp; access to whatever&nbsp;
they want to talk to, and wherever they want to go."
<p>The&nbsp; military&nbsp; government in&nbsp; Burma&nbsp; is&nbsp; currently
under&nbsp; pressure from&nbsp; the International Labour&nbsp; Organisation
to&nbsp; end the use&nbsp; of forced labour&nbsp; in the country.&nbsp;
The&nbsp; international labour&nbsp; rights&nbsp; groups&nbsp; and opposition&nbsp;
Burmese groups have accused the military government of using the forced
labor widely in Burma. Meanwhile, an&nbsp; informed source in Rangoon said
that the government has&nbsp; been taking actions&nbsp; against some&nbsp;
military officers who&nbsp; committed the forced labor&nbsp; but it is
not willing to make&nbsp; any public announcement on that effect.
<p>The ILO&nbsp; mission is composed of&nbsp; Sir Ninian Stephen, former
Governor-General of&nbsp; Australia;&nbsp; Nieves&nbsp; Roldan-Confessor,&nbsp;
former Philippines&nbsp; Secretary&nbsp; of Labour&nbsp; and&nbsp; Employment;&nbsp;
Mr.&nbsp; Kulatilaka Arthanayake&nbsp; Parinda&nbsp; Ranashinghe, former&nbsp;
Chief Justice&nbsp; of Sri Lanka;&nbsp; and Mr.&nbsp; Jerzy Makarczyk of&nbsp;
Poland, a judge with the European Court of Human Rights.
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