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ICFTU RESPONSE TO ELECTION OF BURME



				ICFTU ONLINE...

                 Election of Burmese official as Chair of major
                 UN Committee a ?slap in the face for human and
                 union rights? says global union 12/09/00

                 Brussels September 11 2000 (ICFTU OnLine
                 185/2000): ?The rewarding of Burma by giving one of
                 its senior diplomats the Chair of a major United Nations
                 Committee sends the pariah regime a signal that the
                 UN is not concerned about the country?s persistent
                 use of slave labour, and that this can continue free
                 from official sanction,? said the ICFTU General
                 Secretary Bill Jordan today (September 11).

                 The ICFTU said that the election of Mya Than, Burma?s
                 permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, as
                 Chairperson of the UN General Assembly?s First
                 Committee (of Disarmament and international Security)
                 sends a message to the world that despite the
                 condemnation by UN bodies, including the UN
                 Commission on Human Rights and the International
                 Labour Organisation (ILO) because of its violations of
                 international human rights standards, Burma has
                 received the UN?s official blessing.

                 ?We find it extraordinary that while on the one hand a
                 number of UN bodies adopt strongly-worded
                 Resolutions condemning Burma?s military junta?s human
                 rights record, on the other the Organisation agrees to
                 the election of the same regime?s senior official as
                 Chairman to another section of the UN. Does this mean
                 that the UN ignores the recommendations of its own
                 bodies? Or does it mean that the Member States, who
                 after all elected Mr. Mya Than to the General Assembly
                 post, pay no attention to what they decide in other
                 UN meetings ?? asked the ICFTU today.

                 After strong condemnation of Burma?s military regime
                 at the International Labour Conference in June, the
                 ILO governing body is expected to adopt a series of
                 measures this November towards Burma, including
                 calling on all relevant UN agencies ?to reconsider,
                 within their terms of reference? and, if appropriate, to
                 cease as soon as possible any activity that could have
                 the effect of directly or indirectly abetting the practice
                 of forced or compulsory labour?.

                 The election of the Burmese representative in the
                 same week that the Burmese military government has
                 been condemned internationally for its continual
                 harassment of The National League for Democracy,
                 and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi is all the more bizarre,
                 said the ICFTU.

                 In addition, says the ICFTU, Mya Than cannot be
                 considered blameless in the military regime?s history of
                 enslaving the population, as he has held a number of
                 senior positions in his country?s government.

                 On Wednesday, September 13, the ICFTU will be
                 launching its Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights
                 Violations. In considering the situation in Burma, the
                 Report says ?There are no trade union rights in Burma.
                 The repressive military regime cracks down ruthlessly
                 on any independent trade union activity. In February
                 (1999) it launched mortar shells at a village that was
                 to host a trade union event on human rights?.

                 The ICFTU has written to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary
                 General stating its strong opposition to the election of
                 Mr Mya Than, and requesting Mr. Annan to bring its
                 views to the attention of all UN Member States.