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ICFTU OnLine - Burma Conference ban
- Subject: ICFTU OnLine - Burma Conference ban
- From: darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 02 Jul 1999 09:14:00
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)
ICFTU OnLine
134/990702/DD
Indian Government bans Burma democracy conference for political reasons
Brussels July 2 1999 (ICFTU OnLine): The Indian government has admitted
that it is banning a conference on Democracy for Burma as 'too political'.
It obviously felt that holding an international trade union conference,
(scheduled for July 6 - 8), to which exiled Burmese trade unionists were
invited, would have offended the army generals now running Burma.
The decision followed a move by the Indian government to make it
"mandatory" for all voluntary organisations to get clearance from the
Ministry of External Affairs if they intend to organise events in which
there are foreign participants. In addition, all foreigners participating
in events organised by voluntary organisations have to get clearance from
the Home Ministry if the event "appears to be Government/politically
sensitive." According to a government notification, the ICFTU Conference
falls into that category.
"The stand taken by the Indian government is a slur on its credibility as
the world's supposedly largest democracy" said the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) one of the Burma conference
organisers. An earlier attempt to organise the ICFTU Conference in
Thailand also failed following a ban by the authorities in Bangkok.
Burma has a recent history of severe trade and human rights abuses,
including arbitrary imprisonment, murder, rape and torture and the
widespread use of forced labour. Two weeks ago the International Labour
Conference in Geneva agreed to the de facto expulsion of Burma, because of
the government's systematic forced labour practices. The decision followed
a joint proposal submitted and adopted by government, trade union and
employers' delegates, asking the ILO to refuse Burma all technical
assistance and to ban the country's representatives from attending its
meetings
Earlier in June, the ICFTU provided fresh evidence that more than three
quarters of a million people are being used as slave labour on projects
run by the generals, much of it for personal profit. So far, no-one
involved in the use of forced labour, which the International Labour
Office last year described as a crime against humanity, has been
prosecuted.
"That the Indian government can refuse to allow a conference which
discusses forced labour and other human rights issues in Burma, because of
fear of offending its perpetrators, and can make it difficult for any
organisation to organise events which it deems "politically sensitive" is
a menacing sign for those working to promote peace, justice and social
progress in the region" said the ICFTU.
For further information, please contact the ICFTU Press Office on: (+32-2)
224 0212
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