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BURMA/HUMAN RIGHTS




Burma defends its human rights record
Thursday 22 July, 1999 (8:24am AEST) 
  
  Burma's military Junta has defended its record on the rights of women and
children.

Rangoon has issued a statement to counter recent claims of gross human
rights abuses. 

Just last month the International Labour Organisation took the unprecedented
step of expelling Burma over its use of forced labour. 

At the same time Amnesty International accused the military of killing
ethnic minority farmers and forcing hundreds of thousands from their land. 

Rangoon's powerful first secretary, has now hit back claiming Burma is at
the forefront of child rights, womens affairs and social development. 

He says the military government is ensuring Burma's strong sectors render
assistance to the weak. 

An earlier ILO report concluded there was abundant evidence of the use of
forced labour in Burma, particularly of women, children and the elderly. 

SOURCE:ABC
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