"...recalling that there is currently no legal basis to the respect for, and realization of, freedom of association in Myanmar, the Committee once again recalls that while trade unions are expected under Article 8 of the Convention to respect the law of the land, ?[t]he law of the land shall not be such as to impair, nor shall it be so applied as to impair, the guarantees provided for in this Convention?. The authorities should not interfere with legitimate trade union activities through arbitrary arrest or detention and allegations of criminal conduct should not be used to harass trade unionists by reason of their union membership or activities. The Committee therefore once again most strongly deplores the serious alleged acts of murder, arrest, detention, torture and sentencing to many years of imprisonment of trade unionists for the exercise of ordinary trade union activities, including the mere sending of information to the FTUB and participation in May Day activities. The Committee once again urges, the Government to provide information on measures adopted and instructions issued without delay so as to ensure respect for the fundamental civil liberties of trade union members and officers and to take all necessary measures to secure the immediate release of Thurein Aung, Wai Lin, Nyi Nyi Zaw, Kyaw Kyaw, Kyaw Win, Myo Min, and all those who have been imprisoned for the exercise of trade union activities immediately and to ensure that no worker is sanctioned for the exercise of such activities, in particular for having contacts with workers? organizations of their own choosing. Furthermore, recalling that the right of workers and employers to freely establish and join organizations of their own choosing cannot exist unless such freedom is established and recognized both in law and in practice, the Committee once again urges the Government to indicate all measures taken, including instructions issued, to ensure the free operation of any form of organization of collective representation of workers, freely chosen by them to defend and promote their economic and social interests, including organizations which operate in exile..."