BBC-Burma condemned for forced labo

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Wednesday, August 19, 1998 Published at 20:06 GMT 21:06 UK 

Burma condemned for forced labour 

The International Labour Organisation has condemned the military government
in Burma for what it says is the systematic and widespread use of forced
labour. 

It says the authorities treat the civilian population as an unlimited pool
of unpaid labourers and servants -- part of a political system based on
force and intimidation which is used to deny the Burmese people democracy
and the rule of law. 

The ILO accuses soldiers of raping or sexually assaulting women in their
charge and says other civilians are also frequently beaten. 



>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service