ILO report on Burma (r)

[byva@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

GENEVA, Aug 19  - The United Nations labour body accused Myanmar's military
government on
    Wednesday of systematic and widespread forced labour "with total disregard
for human dignity". 

    Women, children and the elderly are all forced into the practice by the
army, and women performing forced labour are
    raped and sexually abused by soldiers, according to the International
Labour Organisation, the U.N. agency
    specialising in workers' rights. 

    The Geneva-based body said its accusations were based on the findings of a
commission of inquiry -- appointed by
    the ILO's Governing Body in March 1997 -- that gathered evidence from
eyewitnesses and non-governmental groups. 

    Without detailing specific cases or giving figures, it said the commission
had uncovered "abundant evidence showing
    the pervasive use of forced labour imposed on the civilian population
throughout Myanmar by the authorities and
    military". 

    It said forced labour, which is a violation of ILO accords, was most
widespread in the construction, maintenance and
    servicing of military camps and other work for the army as well as in
agriculture, logging, construction of roads,
    railways and bridges and other infrastructure work. 

    "Forced labour in Myanmar is widely performed by women, children and
elderly persons as well as persons otherwise
    unfit for work, and is almost never renumerated or compensated," said the
ILO. 

    "Forced labourers including those sick or injured are frequently beaten or
otherwise physically abused by soldiers,
    resulting in serious injuries. Some are killed, and women performing
compulsory labour are raped or sexually abused
    by soldiers." 

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