[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

NEWS - Burma's junta is too afraid



Subject: NEWS - Burma's junta is too afraid to admit responsibility

Burma's junta is too afraid to admit responsibility

NOTE: The regime signed on to U.N. and ILO conventions in the past only
to overt or ignore them within Burma.  Just because they crush unions,
freedom of speech, freedom of association and MANY other freedoms
allowed by many Asian, European, South American and other wertern
countries they refuse to follow any new rules, laws and resolutions. 
The junta is too afraid to admit responsibility and take the blame for
their violations of international law, labor law and human rights that
they agreed to in the past.


Myanmar Cowardly Dissociates from ILO Resolution

               Xinhua
               17-JUN-99

               YANGON (June 17) XINHUA - Myanmar has
               announced dissociation of itself from a current
               resolution adopted at the 87th session of the
               International Labor Conference (ILC) in Geneva
               which accused the country of widespread use of
               forced labor and restriction of freedom of
               association. 

               According to a press release of the Myanmar
               Foreign Ministry Thursday night, Myanmar will
               cease participation in activities connected with
               Convention 29 (Forced Labor Convention) and
               Convention 87 (Convention on the Freedom of
               Association). 

               A number of western nations pushed through the
               resolution at the current session of the ILC. The
               Myanmar government says the resolution is an
               unfair and biased one. 

               "This is an action which is unprecedented and is
               also not in conformity with the existing procedures
               of the International Labor Organization (ILO)," the
               press release said. "In view of the unfairness of the
               exercise, its lack of balance and objectivity as well
               as the underlying political motives, Myanmar finds it
               impossible to accept such deplorable and
               unscrupulous action on the part of those nations
               who want to interfere and meddle in the internal
               affairs of Myanmar," it stated. 


               The participation will cease "until such time that
               Myanmar receives fair and equitable treatment that
               must necessarily be accorded to all members of the
               ILO," it warned, adding that the country will continue
               to comply with the conventions to which it is a
               party. 

               A Commission of Inquiry on Forced Labor in
               Myanmar was formed in 1997 which the Myanmar
               government then objected, saying that there existed
               no ground for the establishment. 

               The Myanmar government also refuted the report of
               the commission and its recommendations issued in
               July 1998, saying that they are one-sided, biased
               and based on unfounded allegations made by
               dissidents. 

               Myanmar became a member of the ILO in 1948, a
               few months after it regained independence from the
               British colonial rule, and had ratified 19 ILO
               conventions. 

               The country also charged some western nations
               with attempting to use the ILO to further their
               political aims in Myanmar since the early 1990s.