Forced Labor Alleged in Burma

[ausgeo@xxxxxxx]

12th June 1997

Forced Labor Alleged in Burma 


BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- The Burmese army has forced at least 4,000 villagers 
to carry food and equipment for soldiers fighting ethnic Karen rebels, an 
exiled student group said today. 

Many of the porters are women who have been raped by the soldiers, the All 
Burma Students Democratic Front said in a statement released in Bangkok. 

The Burmese army launched an offensive in February aimed at wiping out Karen 
resistance to the military government in Rangoon. The rebels have lost most of 
their key bases along the Thai border, and more than 10,000 refugees have fled 
to Thailand to avoid the conflict. 

Skirmishes are still taking place between the guerrillas and the army. 

The Karen have been fighting for autonomy since 1949. The latest campaign 
began after cease-fire talks between the two sides broke down. 

The students also said there were about 600 prisoners among the porters. 

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said in March that several members of 
her party had been arrested, and she believed they were taken to work as 
porters in the offensive. 

Democracy activists are usually arrested by the intelligence services, she 
said, but this group was arrested by the army. 

One was found buried in a shallow grave at the side of a road, but the others 
have never been heard from again. 

Refugees and human rights groups have documented frequent instances of the 
Burmese army rounding up civilians and forcing them serve as porters. 

Many die of starvation or are shot when too weak to carry their loads. Some 
have been used as human mine-sweepers. 

The students' front has a small armed wing that fights alongside the Karen.