Reuters-FOCUS-U.N. labour agency pu

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Subject: Reuters-FOCUS-U.N. labour agency puts Myanmar out in cold 

FOCUS-U.N. labour agency puts Myanmar out in cold
10:33 a.m. Jun 17, 1999 Eastern
By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, June 17 (Reuters) - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) on
Thursday virtually expelled Myanmar, banning it from receiving aid or
attending meetings until it halts widespread forced labour, an ILO spokesman
said.

The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority at the U.N. agency's
annual meeting, at which its 174 member states, as well as workers' and
employers' representatives vote.

It denounced the military government for inflicting what it called ``nothing
but a contemporary form of slavery,'' including work on infrastructure
projects and as porters for the army.

Myanmar's foreign ministry, in a statement obtained by Reuters in Bangkok,
dismissed the interference as ``deplorable and unscrupulous.'' It said the
ILO had fallen victim to ``political tricks of Western nations, particularly
Britain.''

The move, which marked the culmination of ILO's 30-year bid to halt forced
labour in Myanmar, was unprecedented despite previous rebukes of Poland
under martial law and of apartheid South Africa.

``This is as isolated as a country can get in the ILO, which does not have
any mechanism for formal expulsion,'' ILO spokesman John Doohan told
Reuters. The vote was 333 delegates in favour with 27 against and 47
abstentions.

Government delegates named as joining Myanmar in voting against the text
were all Asian -- Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Several Asian countries had called for
giving Myanmar more time.

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions estimates that more
than 800,000 Burmese are forced to labour.

Bill Brett, the ILO workers' delegate from Britain who tabled the resolution
with the employers' representative, Germany's Rolf Thuesing, said people
were forced to work in dangerous areas of landmined jungle.

``We really hope Myanmar will comply. If not, we expect to take the judgemen
t from the ILO into every other U.N. forum,'' Brett told reporters.

``This is very much the last chance for Myanmar to realise the world
community cannot put up with slavery at the end of the 20th century,'' he

added.

Brett, who is vice chairman of ILO's governing body, said that the 56-member
body which meets in November cannot impose sanctions, but can pass on urgent
matters to other parts of the U.N. system. He added: ``It is unchartered
water.''

U.S. President Bill Clinton, in a speech to the ILO forum on Wednesday,
singled out Myanmar for criticism, saying the military government was
violating human rights by forcing people into labour. He called for the U.N.
labour body to take action.

The resolution said Myanmar was guilty of ``flagrant and persistent
failure'' to comply with a 1930 ILO treaty banning forced labour, which it
has ratified.

It had ignored recommendations made last August by an ILO inquiry
commission, which called for halting forced labour after interviewing more
than 250 eyewitnesses and documenting abuses.

The text said Myanmar's attitude and behaviour were ``grossly incompatible''
with the principles governing membership in ILO, founded in 1919 to promote
social justice and workers' rights.

The country would ``cease to benefit'' from any ILO technical assistance and
would not be invited to attend meetings until it had implemented ILO's
recommendations, it added.