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(Part 2 of 3) Appendices to the Rep



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(Part 2 of 3) Appendices to the Report of the ILO High-level team.
Divided into 3 parts for easier downloading. The version on the ILO site is=
=20
authoritative:

Appendices to the Report of the ILO High-level team (PDF 1014K)
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb282/pdf/gb-4-ax.p=
df

*******************************************************

Appendix VI

Detailed itinerary of the HLT

(a) Summary

During its stay in Yangon (17-22 September and 5=966 October) the HLT held=
 17=20
meetings, with the Chairman of the SPDC, Secretary-1 of the SPDC, Ministers=
=20
and Deputy Ministers as well as the Attorney General, the Chief Justice,=20
and senior officials. It met twice with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and also had=20
meetings with senior members of the NLD, elected representatives from=20
ethnic nationalities parties, religious leaders, and representatives of=20
four ceasefire groups. The HLT also met with representatives of seven UN=20
agencies, 26 foreign diplomats, a number of representatives of the local=20
and international business communities, a representative of the ICRC and=20
representatives of eight international NGOs.

During its field trips (23=9628 September and 30 September to 4 October) the=
=20
HLT met with many representatives of peace and development councils (PDCs)=
=20
at the state/ division, district, township and village-tract levels. As=20
summarised below, the HLT also met with members of the armed forces,=20
police/prison officers and members of the judiciary at all levels:

PDC representatives: 36 people (23 at the village level)

Armed forces personnel: 24 people (7 with regional or divisional commanders)

Police/ prison officers: 7 people

Judges: 5 people

Religious leaders: 17 people

Furthermore, the HLT felt bound to hear what members of the general=20
population had to say as regards the situation of forced labour in Myanmar.=
=20
Many of the meetings it held were with groups of people. On some occasions,=
=20
the HLT deemed it more appropriate not to ask for the identifying data of=20
persons who were willing to provide it with information, but rather to try=
=20
to form a general impression of the situation from these random=20
discussions. The HLT obtained identifying data for at least 105 of the more=
=20
than 120 meetings that it had in various public locations. The remainder=20
were informal meetings held with one or more persons.

During its meetings and interviews across the border in Thailand, the HLT=20
met with 96 persons from the general Myanmar population, including many=20
community leaders. During its stay in Thailand, the HLT also met with=20
representatives of 5 NGOs having relevant information, as well as a=20
representative of one ceasefire group, the Kachin Independence=20
Organization, and representatives of the National Democratic Front.


(b) Meetings in Yangon

Monday, 17 September

0955 Arrive Yangon

1215 Briefing with United Nations Resident Coordinator

1400 Meeting with HE U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs

1500 Meeting with ILO Mission Coordination Committee [HE U Khin Maung Win,=
=20
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (Chair); Brig-Gen Win Sein, Deputy=20
Minister for Labour (Vice-Chair); Director-General of the Department of=20
Labour; Managing Director of Myanmar Airways; Deputy Director-General of=20
the Department of Civil Aviation; Directors-General of the International=20
Organizations and Economic Department and the Political Affairs Department,=
=20
Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director-General of the Attorney-General's=20
Office; Director-General of the Department of General Administration,=20
Ministry of Home Affairs; Director-General of the Department of Transport;=
=20
two representatives of the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence=20
(DDSI), Ministry of Defence]

Tuesday, 18 September

0800 Meeting with United Nations Country Team [Representatives of UNAIDS,=20
UNDCP, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO]

0930 Meeting with Ministry of Defence personnel [Brig-Gen Kyaw Thein and=20
Col Hla Min of the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI),=20
Ministry of Defence]

1115 Meeting with Convention 29 Implementation Committee [HE U Khin Maung=20
Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (Chair); Brig-Gen Win Sein, Deputy=
=20
Minister for Labour (Vice-Chair); Director-General of the Supreme Court;=20
Director-General of the Attorney-General's Office; Directors-General of the=
=20
International Organizations and Economic Department and the Political=20
Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Director-General of the=20
Department of General Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs; two=20
representatives of the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI),=
=20
Ministry of Defence; Chairman of the Social Security Board;=20
Director-General of the Prisons Department; Deputy Director-General of the=
=20
Police Force; Director-General of the Department of Labour; Deputy=20
Director-General of the Department of Labour]

1315 Meeting with diplomats from the ASEAN+ 4 group [Representatives of=20
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam,=20
Cambodia, Laos, Republic of Korea, China, Japan]

1510 Meeting with HE U Tin Winn, Minister at Prime Minister's Office and=20
acting Minister for Labour

1610 Meeting with HE Col. Tin Hlaing, Minister for Home Affairs

1710 Meeting with the Central Committee of the National League for=20
Democracy (NLD)

Wednesday, 19 September

0800 Meeting with representatives of international NGOs (Group 1)

1010 Meeting with HE Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief=
=20
and Resettlement

1105 Meeting with U Aung Toe, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

1250 Meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National=20
League for Democracy (NLD)

1500 Meeting with U Tha Tun, Attorney-General

1630 Meeting with the Myanmar National Committee on Women's Affairs (MNCWA)=
=20
and the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA)

1730 Meeting with ethnic nationalities representatives of the Committee=20
Representing People's Parliament (CRPP)


Thursday, 20 September

0810 Meeting with representatives of international NGOs (Group 2)

1010 Meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, Women's Entrepreneurs=20
Association, and Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs

1200 Meeting with the international business community

1315 Meeting with diplomats from the OECD countries [Representatives of the=
=20
United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, France, Italy]

1500 Meeting with the Myanmar Human Rights Committee [Chaired by HE Col Tin=
=20
Hlaing, Minister for Home Affairs]

1700 Meeting with HE Brig-Gen David Abel, Minister at the Prime Minister's=
=20
Office


Friday, 21 September

0810 Meeting with representatives of UNHCR

0930 Meeting with the ILO Mission Coordination Committee

1100 Meeting with HE Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and=
=20
Development Council

1330 Meeting with various members of the diplomatic community=20
[Representatives of Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri=
=20
Lanka, Yugoslavia]

1700 Meeting with the ICRC delegate


Saturday, 22 September

1400 Meeting with Church leaders

1530 Meeting with representatives of a number of cease-fire groups=20
[Representatives of the Kachin Defence Army, Wa National Unity Party, Pa-o=
=20
National Organisation and the Padoh Aung San faction of the Karen National=
=20
Union]


(c) Field trips in Myanmar

Sunday, 23 September

Team 1 (Sir Ninian Stephen and Justice Parinda Ranasinghe)

At 1400 Team 1 arrived at Dawei airport, Tanintharyi Division.

In the afternoon, the Team held a meeting with Maj-Gen Aye Kyway, Coastal=20
Region Commander.

In the evening, the Team met with a number of local people in various=20
locations in Dawei town.


Team 2 (Ms. Nieves Confesor and Judge Jerzy Makarczyk)

In the morning, Team 2 arrived at Sittwe airport, Rakhine State.

The Teamg with Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Western Region Comm had a meetinander,=20
and also with the Bangladesh Consul in Sittwe.

In the afternoon, Team 2 travelled to Maungdaw by boat.


Monday, 24 September

Team 1

Team 1 travelled to Myitta village by road, with stops at various places=20
along the way to meet with local people. In Myitta, the Team held a number=
=20
of meetings with local people, as well as with the commander of Myitta army=
=20
camp. In the afternoon, the Team returned to Dawei, again stopping at=20
various places along the way to meet with local people and a religious=20
representative.

In the evening, Team 1 met with a number of local people in various=20
locations in Dawei town.

Team 2

Team 2 held meetings during the day with various representatives of=20
international NGOs and UN agencies in Maungdaw, various administrative=20
officials of PDCs at the district, township and ward levels, as well as=20
with local people.

Team 2 also visited a number of villages in Maungdaw South and met with=20
VPDC officials and local people.


Tuesday, 25 September

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 had meetings with the Divisional Judge, with the=20
Dawei District Commissioner, and with a Lt-Col from the army.

In the afternoon, Team 1 flew to Mawlamyine airport, Mon State. The Team=20
then had a meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Southeast Region Commander.

Team 2

Team 2 visited a number of villages by boat on the Naf river, where they=20
met with VPDC members, NaSaKa and police officials, as well as several=20
villagers.

Team 2 also met with a township judge in Maungdaw.


Wednesday, 26 September

Team 1

Team 1 travelled byroad fromMawlamyine to Hpa-an, the capital of Kayin=20
State, taking a route which passed through the villages of Zathabyin and=20
Eindu. The Team stopped at several places along the way and met with=20
villagers, VPDC officials and the leader of a faction of the KNU that had=20
agreed a ceasefire with the authorities.

In Hpa-an, Team 1 met with the Kayin State Commissioner and the Kayin State=
=20
Judge.

Team 1 then returned to Mawlamyine, this time via a different route, and=20
again stopped along the way and met a number of villagers.

Team 2

Team 2 travelled by helicopter to two villages in the far north of Rakhine=
=20
State, on the border with Bangladesh, where they met NaSaKa officials, VPDC=
=20
officials, and a number of villagers.

Team 2 also visited avillage in Rathedaung township, where they met=20
villagers and a VPDC official.

In the afternoon, Team 2 travelled to Mrauk-U town, in the eastern part of=
=20
Rakhine State.


Thursday 27, September

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 met with a number of local residents and religious=20
representatives in Mawlamyine.

In the afternoon in Mawlamyine, Team 1 met with the Prison Group Director=20
for southeast Myanmar and held a second meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Swe,=20
Southeast Region Commander.

In the evening, Team 1 met with Nai Shwe Kyin, President of the New Mon=20
State Party, which has agreed a ceasefire with the authorities.

Team 2

Team 2 visited a number of villages, towns and other locations on the road=
=20
from Mrauk-U to Kyauktaw and Minbya.

The Team met with several military officers, police officers, VPDC=20
officials and local residents in these areas.


Friday, 28 September

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 returned to Yangon by air.

Team 2

Team 2 met with a TPDC official, a township judge, and various other people=
=20
in Mrauk U town. In the afternoon, Team 2 returned to Yangon by air.


Sunday, 30 September

Team 1

At 1400 Team 1 arrived at Lashio airport in northern Shan State.

In the afternoon, Team 1 had a meeting with Brig-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung=20
Myint Oo, Northeastern Region Commander.

In the evening, Team 1 visited a police station in Lashio.

Team 2

In the morning, Team 2 arrived at Loikaw airport in Kayah State.

In the afternoon, the Team met with Brig-Gen Nyunt Hlein, commander of an=20
Infantry Division in Loikaw.

The Team also met with a prominent church leader; representatives of the=20
Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF) ceasefire group; some=20
military personnel and their mules at an Animal Transport Company; as well=
=20
as a number of local residents.


Monday, 1 October

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 travelled by car to Hsipaw, and stopped at a number=
=20
of places on the way where they met VPDC officials and local residents.

At Hsipaw, the Team met with the TPDC Chairman. In the afternoon, the Team=
=20
travelled from Hsipaw in the direction of Mong Yai, and stopped at a number=
=20
of villages and army agricultural plantations.

In the evening, the Team met in Lashio with a number of local residents and=
=20
representatives of religious groups.

Team 2

Team 2 visited a number of villages in Loikaw, Demawso and Hpruso=20
townships, and met with local residents.

The Team also met in Loikaw with the Kayah State Judge.


Tuesday, 2 October

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 drove south from Lashio to Nampong village, and=20
stopped at various villages and army-owned plantations along the way. They=
=20
met with a number of military personnel at these plantations, as well as=20
talking to local residents in the area.

In Nampong, the Team met with VPDC officials, police officers, an army=20
battalion commander, and local residents.

In the afternoon, Team 1 planned to fly to Myitkyina in Kachin State, but=20
was prevented from doing so by bad weather conditions at the destination.

Team 2

In the morning, Team 2 drove from Loikaw to Taunggyi in southern Shan=20
State, via Hsi Hseng. The Team stopped at various places along the road and=
=20
met with a number of local residents.

The Team also stopped at a railway construction site (of the Taunggyi to=20
Namhsam railway) where they met with the deputy minister for rail=20
transportation.


Wednesday, 3 October

Team 1

In the morning, Team 1 again tried to fly to Myitkyina in Kachin State, but=
=20
was again prevented by bad weather conditions at the destination. The Team=
=20
therefore decided to fly back to Yangon.

Team 2

In the morning in Taunggyi, Team 2 met with Maj-Gen Maung Bo, Eastern=20
Region Commander.

The Team then travelled to a number of villages in the Taunggyi area, and=20
met with a number of residents of these villages.


Thursday, 4 October

Team 1

Yangon

Team 2

In the morning, Team 2 flew back to Yangon.


(d) Wrap-up meetings in Yangon


Friday, 5 October

1030 Meeting with Convention 29 Implementation Committee

1500 Meeting with HE Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace=
=20
and Development Council, together with General Maung Aye and Lt-Gen Khin=
 Nyunt

1800 Meeting with representatives of the international business community


Saturday, 6 October

1000 Meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National=20
League for Democracy (NLD)

1200 Meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs

1615 Meeting with the United Nations Country Team

1700 Meeting with the diplomatic community

1950 Depart Yangon for Bangkok



(e) Meetings and visits across the Thai border

Sunday, 7 October

0900 Meeting with representatives of the Burmese Border Consortium

1030 Meeting with researchers with information on the situation on the=20
Myanmar-Bangladesh border

Monday, 8 October to Wednesday, 10 October

On the morning of Monday, 8 October, the HLT flew from Bangkok to Mae Sot.=
=20
The HLT had a meeting with the Karen Human Rights Group and then spent=20
three days in Mae Sot and the surrounding area interviewing 80 persons from=
=20
Myanmar with recent information relevant to the HLT's mandate. The HLT also=
=20
had the opportunity of meeting senior representatives from the National=20
Democratic Front (NDF), an umbrella organization of ethnic nationalities=20
groups.


Thursday, 11 October to Friday, 12 October

On the morning of Thursday, 11 October, the HLT flew from Mae Sot to Chiang=
=20
Mai. Since the HLT had been unable to travel to Myitkyina in Kachin State,=
=20
it took the opportunity in Chiang Mai of meeting with a representative of=20
the Kachin Independence Organisation, a group which has a ceasefire=20
agreement with the Myanmar authorities. The HLT also had a meeting with=20
Burma Relief Centre and EarthRights International. The HLT then drove to=20
the town of Fang. On Friday, 12 October, the HLT interviewed 26 persons=20
from Myanmar with recent information relevant to its mandate.

*******************************

Appendix VII

Map of Myanmar

Map No. 4168 UNITED NATIONS July 2001 Department of Public Information=20
Cartographic Section

********************************

Appendix VIII

Myanmar terms, acronyms, and alternative spellings of places visited

Places visited

Official spelling used in this report -- Alternative spelling

Dawei (capital of Tanintharyi Division) -- Tavoy

Hpa-an (capital of Kayin State) -- Pa-an

Lashio( town in northern ShanState) =96

Loikaw (capital of Kayah State) =96

Mawlamyine (capital of Mon State) -- Moulmein Sittwe (capital of Rakhine=20
State) -- Akyab Taunggyi (capital of Shan State) =96 Yangon (capital of=20
Myanmar) -- Rangoon

Kayah (State) -- Karenni Kayin (State) -- Karen Mon (State) =96 Rakhine=20
(State) -- Arakan Tanintharyi (Division) -- Tenasserim

Myanmar terms

kyat: unit of currency of Myanmar

Regional Commander: commander of one of the 12 military regions (the=20
regional commanders, together with the other senior commanders of the armed=
=20
forces, make up the SPDC)

township: town and the surrounding region and village tracts constituting=20
an administrative unit

village tract: group of villages constituting an administrative unit

Acronyms

PDC: Peace and Development Council (administrative body operating at the=20
village-tract, township, district, state/ divisional and State levels)

SPDC: State Peace and Development Council (Myanmar's ruling body)

DPDC: District Peace and Development Council (administrative body at the=20
district level)

TPDC: Township Peace and Development Council (administrative body at the=20
township level)

VPDC: Village-tract Peace and Development Council (administrative body at=20
the village tract level)

ATB: Animal Transport Battalion (military battalion of mules for transport=
=20
of military supplies)

NaSaKa: Border security force (under the command of the military)

NLD: National League for Democracy

*****************************************

Appendix IX

Summary of the meeting between the HLT and Senior General Than Shwe

Friday, 5 October 2001, Yangon, 3.00-4.15 p.m.

Present: The HLT, Senior General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye, Lt-Gen. Khin=
=20
Nyunt

1. Senior General Than Shwe expressed his pleasure at having the=20
opportunity of meeting with the HLT. He explained that, in Myanmar, there=20
was a great tradition according to which everything should be done to=20
ensure that visitors were respected and welcomed. He added that the HLT had=
=20
now been in the country for some time. It had been able to visit and=20
interact with the people of Myanmar and make its own assessment of the=20
situation.

2. Senior General Than Shwe provided the HLT with information concerning=20
the situation prevailing in the country. He explained that, even though the=
=20
army was governing the country, it never really intended to assume that=20
responsibility. The conditions in the country compelled the army to do so.=
=20
Myanmar was a country comprised of 135 different ethnic groups. The=20
non-disintegration of the country was of the utmost importance. In this=20
regard, the task of the army was difficult and complicated. Unity could=20
only be ensured through a process of pacification and development of the=20
country. However, this process had been from the outset of the country's=20
independence jeopardized by the insurgency issue, which had created=20
instability and unrest. For Senior General Than Shwe, peace and stability=20
could only be achieved with a strong central government. This was why the=20
army had launched massive military operations against the insurgents.=20
However, they realised that the solution could not rely only on military=20
means and had to include political elements. That was the reason why the=20
army had initiated discussions with insurgent groups. These negotiations=20
had turned out to be particularly complex and difficult and had lasted in=20
some cases up to five years before an agreement was reached. Out of the 18=
=20
insurgent groups recognised by the government, only one group had not yet=20
signed a ceasefire agreement. Senior General Than Shwe explained that=20
discussions with this group were still going on since they knew that it was=
=20
only through peace and stability that the country could be developed. The=20
authorities had to use a lot of patience for the process to be successful.=
=20
History revealed that previous governments were not successful in achieving=
=20
peace because they were not willing to listen to the insurgents' wishes,=20
such as the desire to maintain the control of their areas and the=20
possibility of keeping their arms. This the present government understood.=
=20
Ten years had been necessary to reach a certain level of understanding. As=
=20
the HLT had surely observed, many areas of the country were very backward=20
and the army really wanted to take all necessary measures to develop them,=
=20
that is, provide them with schools, roads, hospitals, and so forth.=20
Furthermore, the authorities were also seriously working on the drug issue=
=20
and had undertaken a vast program of crop substitution. Senior General Than=
=20
Shwe said that he was mentioning this issue in order to show that the army=
=20
had not only to tackle the labour issue, but also a number of others that=20
were affecting the well-being of the people of Myanmar.

3. As regards more specifically the assessment of the HLT, Senior General=20
Than Shwe explained that the authorities of Myanmar were not discouraged by=
=20
international scrutiny. In fact, he said that they had learnt a lot from=20
it. Of course, the country had its own goals and objectives and it had to=20
draw lessons from its history. Today, the goal on which the SPDC was=20
focussing was the building of a strong democracy based on three=20
prerequisites: stability and peace; strong central government; and a=20
flourishing economy. For 27 years, the country had been governed by a=20
socialist regime. In those times, the country received a lot of assistance.=
=20
Now that the authorities were trying to build a democratic country, he=20
observed that they were facing a lot of resistance from the international=20
community. This reluctance, he believed, would only delay the process=20
leading to democracy. He recalled his attachment to the teachings of=20
Buddhism, and insisted on the fact that even if they were from the=20
military, they were trying to govern according to the Rule of Law. Many of=
=20
the laws that were being applied by the courts were inherited from the=20
British time. The courts were not military, they were civilian. In=20
concluding, he insisted on the fact that the military had no desire to=20
persecute their own people and that they would never let the armed forces=20
become the enemy of the people of Myanmar.

4. Sir Ninian thanked Senior General Than Shwe for having agreed to meet=20
with the HLT. He also expressed the HLT's gratitude for the way the=20
authorities had fulfilled their commitment not to interfere with its work.=
=20
He took note of Senior General Than Shwe's concern as regards the attitude=
=20
of the international community and the additional delay in achieving=20
democracy that this could imply. However, Sir Ninian insisted on the fact=20
that the HLT visited the country with the aim of assisting it. The HLT had=
=20
not come simply to blame the country. Sir Ninian thanked Senior General=20
Than Shwe, since the arrangements made for it by the Government had=20
proceeded very smoothly and that had surely involved a lot of hard work on=
=20
the part of the authorities. Sir Ninian stressed that the HLT trusted that=
=20
the authorities would honour in the same impeccable manner the other side=20
of their solemn commitment, that regarding persons or organisations with=20
whom the HLT had had contact and who sometimes seemed worried about their=20
security despite the assurances of the Government which the HLT had=20
transmitted. For Sir Ninian, this involved not only a moral obligation, but=
=20
was an essential part of the confidence-building with the international=20
community involved in the visit of the HLT.

5. Sir Ninian observed that the HLT had established many contacts during=20
its visit to the country. However, it had not reached its conclusions yet;=
=20
as the authorities were aware, these conclusions would take the form of a=20
report addressed to the ILO. For the sake of full transparency, Sir Ninian=
=20
informed Senior General Than Shwe that the HLT had been offered the=20
possibility of having contact with other groups =96 "by no means friendly" =
=96=20
outside the country. The HLT had decided to avail itself of this=20
opportunity and the authorities of Myanmar could rest assured that the HLT=
=20
would exercise the same degree of critical judgement in that phase of its=20
work as it had exercised during its time in Myanmar.

6. Sir Ninian stressed that the members of the HLT were not at this point=20
in a position to definitely form a common judgement, since this would=20
require a careful analysis of the notes of the respective visits carried=20
out by its two groups. However, he said that the members of the HLT felt=20
that the opportunity that had been given to them to meet with the Head of=20
State provided them with the possibility to share with him some of their=20
very preliminary impressions and to discuss possible ways in which the ILO=
=20
and the international community could further assist the SPDC's efforts to=
=20
eradicate the problem of forced labour.

7. Sir Ninian said that the HLT took note of the efforts which had been=20
made to disseminate the Orders. He believed that even if these efforts had=
=20
been uneven, it was an important step to show commitment. But for the HLT,=
=20
it was not enough to have the Orders publicised. The most important issue=20
was their effective implementation. In this regard, Sir Ninian said that=20
the HLT was sceptical about the argument heard during the first week of its=
=20
visit that the absence of criminal prosecution was evidence that forced=20
labour had disappeared once the Orders had been made public. Further=20
discussions and observations had revealed that violations were not dealt=20
with as criminal offences as they were supposed to be, and that the Orders=
=20
might not be being obeyed by the military in remote areas =96 or even not so=
=20
remote areas =96 despite efforts to make them known and applied. Sir Ninian=
=20
added, however, that the HLT was encouraged by Secretary-1's statement=20
asking to be informed of violations and his willingness to accept the=20
recommendations that the HLT might share with the authorities as regards=20
obstacles that existed to full implementation of the Orders. Sir Ninian=20
said that the HLT was acutely aware that hardly one year had passed since=20
the adoption of the Supplementary Order and that this was not a very long=20
time to eradicate a problem which had been endemic in the country. The real=
=20
challenge would be to satisfy the international community that despite the=
=20
shortcomings that the HLT might have observed, there was a positive and=20
sustainable trend.

8. For Sir Ninian, it was obvious that this one-time exercise of the HLT=20
could hardly be repeated in order to confirm a long-term trend. He believed=
=20
that the best way to ensure appropriate assistance from the ILO and through=
=20
it from the international community in this long-term process that the Head=
=20
of State had ably described would be to allow the establishment of an ILO=20
permanent presence. In itself, this idea was not new. It had been proposed=
=20
in the past and did not meet with an official refusal. If there were an ILO=
=20
presence =96 authorised to go everywhere without restrictions =96 Sir Ninian=
=20
considered that this would surely have a positive impact on the general=20
opinion of the international community. Of course, the HLT was aware that=20
an ILO presence was only one among the many and complex steps that could=20
contribute to the effective eradication of forced labour, as had been=20
mentioned by the Head of State, i. e. pacification, economic development=20
and modernisation of the country. However, the HLT was convinced that this=
=20
step was key to the others. Sir Ninian said that he personally sincerely=20
hoped that the ILO presence could be readily acceptable to the authorities.=
=20
The establishment of an ILO presence with meaningful facilities would send=
=20
a powerful message to the international community about the real commitment=
=20
of the authorities to eradicate the problem of forced labour and beyond=20
that to engage in a process of modernisation with which forced labour was=20
completely incompatible. Sir Ninian added that the message would be all the=
=20
more powerful if this presence could be seen positively by all sides=20
involved in the ongoing dialogue.

9. Sir Ninian took the opportunity of the meeting with the Head of State to=
=20
inform the authorities that the HLT had committed itself to meet again with=
=20
a number of persons before it departed from Myanmar, for instance, the=20
business community (both local and international), the UN, the diplomatic=20
community, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. While these meetings were more a=20
matter of courtesy, Sir Ninian wanted to make it clear =96 in the same=
 spirit=20
of full transparency mentioned before =96 that meeting withs Daw Aung San=
 Suu=20
Kyi could also greatly contribute to reassuring the international community=
=20
that an ILO presence represented a true element of convergence in the=20
ongoing dialogue.

10. In concluding, Sir Ninian indicated that, while the specific content of=
=20
the HLT report was still to be determined, two things were certain. First,=
=20
that its content would, through the ILO, be made available to the=20
authorities of Myanmar. Second, that all the members of the HLT had faith=20
in the capacity of this country and its inhabitants to achieve the place=20
they deserved in the international community and to participate in the=20
promotion of respect of fundamental human rights. Sir Ninian believed it=20
was courageous for the country to have accepted this "intrusive"=20
international scrutiny.

***************************************
END OF PART 2 (OF 3)


Online Burma Library -- www.burmalibrary.org
Annotated and classified links to thousands of full-text documents on=20
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(Part 2 of 3) Appendices to the Report of the ILO High-level team.<br>
Divided into 3 parts for easier downloading. The version on the ILO site
is authoritative:<br><br>
Appendices to the Report of the ILO High-level team (PDF 1014K)<br>
<font color=3D"#0000FF"><u><a=
 href=3D"http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb282/pdf/=
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</a></u></font>*******************************************************<br><b=
r>
Appendix VI <br><br>
Detailed itinerary of the HLT <br><br>
(a) Summary <br><br>
During its stay in Yangon (17-22 September and 5=966 October) the HLT held
17 meetings, with the Chairman of the SPDC, Secretary-1 of the SPDC,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers as well as the Attorney General, the Chief
Justice, and senior officials. It met twice with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and
also had meetings with senior members of the NLD, elected representatives
from ethnic nationalities parties, religious leaders, and representatives
of four ceasefire groups. The HLT also met with representatives of seven
UN agencies, 26 foreign diplomats, a number of representatives of the
local and international business communities, a representative of the
ICRC and representatives of eight international NGOs. <br><br>
During its field trips (23=9628 September and 30 September to 4 October)
the HLT met with many representatives of peace and development councils
(PDCs) at the state/ division, district, township and village-tract
levels. As summarised below, the HLT also met with members of the armed
forces, police/prison officers and members of the judiciary at all
levels: <br><br>
PDC representatives: 36 people (23 at the village level) <br><br>
Armed forces personnel: 24 people (7 with regional or divisional
commanders) <br><br>
Police/ prison officers: 7 people <br><br>
Judges: 5 people <br><br>
Religious leaders: 17 people <br><br>
Furthermore, the HLT felt bound to hear what members of the general
population had to say as regards the situation of forced labour in
Myanmar. Many of the meetings it held were with groups of people. On some
occasions, the HLT deemed it more appropriate not to ask for the
identifying data of persons who were willing to provide it with
information, but rather to try to form a general impression of the
situation from these random discussions. The HLT obtained identifying
data for at least 105 of the more than 120 meetings that it had in
various public locations. The remainder were informal meetings held with
one or more persons. <br><br>
During its meetings and interviews across the border in Thailand, the HLT
met with 96 persons from the general Myanmar population, including many
community leaders. During its stay in Thailand, the HLT also met with
representatives of 5 NGOs having relevant information, as well as a
representative of one ceasefire group, the Kachin Independence
Organization, and representatives of the National Democratic Front.
<br><br>
<br>
(b) Meetings in Yangon <br><br>
Monday, 17 September <br><br>
0955 Arrive Yangon <br><br>
1215 Briefing with United Nations Resident Coordinator <br><br>
1400 Meeting with HE U Win Aung, Minister for Foreign Affairs <br><br>
1500 Meeting with ILO Mission Coordination Committee [HE U Khin Maung
Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (Chair); Brig-Gen Win Sein,
Deputy Minister for Labour (Vice-Chair); Director-General of the
Department of Labour; Managing Director of Myanmar Airways; Deputy
Director-General of the Department of Civil Aviation; Directors-General
of the International Organizations and Economic Department and the
Political Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
Director-General of the Attorney-General's Office; Director-General of
the Department of General Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs;
Director-General of the Department of Transport; two representatives of
the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI), Ministry of
Defence] <br><br>
Tuesday, 18 September <br><br>
0800 Meeting with United Nations Country Team [Representatives of UNAIDS,
UNDCP, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO] <br><br>
0930 Meeting with Ministry of Defence personnel [Brig-Gen Kyaw Thein and
Col Hla Min of the Directorate of Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI),
Ministry of Defence] <br><br>
1115 Meeting with Convention 29 Implementation Committee [HE U Khin Maung
Win, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (Chair); Brig-Gen Win Sein,
Deputy Minister for Labour (Vice-Chair); Director-General of the Supreme
Court; Director-General of the Attorney-General's Office;
Directors-General of the International Organizations and Economic
Department and the Political Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs; Director-General of the Department of General Administration,
Ministry of Home Affairs; two representatives of the Directorate of
Defence Services Intelligence (DDSI), Ministry of Defence; Chairman of
the Social Security Board; Director-General of the Prisons Department;
Deputy Director-General of the Police Force; Director-General of the
Department of Labour; Deputy Director-General of the Department of
Labour] <br><br>
1315 Meeting with diplomats from the ASEAN+ 4 group [Representatives of
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Laos, Republic of Korea, China, Japan] <br><br>
1510 Meeting with HE U Tin Winn, Minister at Prime Minister's Office and
acting Minister for Labour <br><br>
1610 Meeting with HE Col. Tin Hlaing, Minister for Home Affairs=20
<br><br>
1710 Meeting with the Central Committee of the National League for
Democracy (NLD) <br><br>
Wednesday, 19 September <br><br>
0800 Meeting with representatives of international NGOs (Group 1)
<br><br>
1010 Meeting with HE Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Minister for Social Welfare,
Relief and Resettlement <br><br>
1105 Meeting with U Aung Toe, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
<br><br>
1250 Meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National
League for Democracy (NLD) <br><br>
1500 Meeting with U Tha Tun, Attorney-General <br><br>
1630 Meeting with the Myanmar National Committee on Women's Affairs
(MNCWA) and the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA)
<br><br>
1730 Meeting with ethnic nationalities representatives of the Committee
Representing People's Parliament (CRPP) <br><br>
<br>
Thursday, 20 September <br><br>
0810 Meeting with representatives of international NGOs (Group 2)
<br><br>
1010 Meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, Women's Entrepreneurs
Association, and Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs <br><br>
1200 Meeting with the international business community <br><br>
1315 Meeting with diplomats from the OECD countries [Representatives of
the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Russia, Germany, France,
Italy] <br><br>
1500 Meeting with the Myanmar Human Rights Committee [Chaired by HE Col
Tin Hlaing, Minister for Home Affairs] <br><br>
1700 Meeting with HE Brig-Gen David Abel, Minister at the Prime
Minister's Office <br><br>
<br>
Friday, 21 September <br><br>
0810 Meeting with representatives of UNHCR <br><br>
0930 Meeting with the ILO Mission Coordination Committee <br><br>
1100 Meeting with HE Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary-1 of the State Peace
and Development Council <br><br>
1330 Meeting with various members of the diplomatic community
[Representatives of Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia] <br><br>
1700 Meeting with the ICRC delegate <br><br>
<br>
Saturday, 22 September <br><br>
1400 Meeting with Church leaders <br><br>
1530 Meeting with representatives of a number of cease-fire groups
[Representatives of the Kachin Defence Army, Wa National Unity Party,
Pa-o National Organisation and the Padoh Aung San faction of the Karen
National Union] <br><br>
<br>
(c) Field trips in Myanmar <br><br>
Sunday, 23 September <br><br>
Team 1 (Sir Ninian Stephen and Justice Parinda Ranasinghe) <br><br>
At 1400 Team 1 arrived at Dawei airport, Tanintharyi Division. <br><br>
In the afternoon, the Team held a meeting with Maj-Gen Aye Kyway, Coastal
Region Commander. <br><br>
In the evening, the Team met with a number of local people in various
locations in Dawei town. <br><br>
<br>
Team 2 (Ms. Nieves Confesor and Judge Jerzy Makarczyk) <br><br>
In the morning, Team 2 arrived at Sittwe airport, Rakhine State.
<br><br>
The Teamg with Maj-Gen Aung Htwe, Western Region Comm had a meetinander,
and also with the Bangladesh Consul in Sittwe. <br><br>
In the afternoon, Team 2 travelled to Maungdaw by boat. <br><br>
<br>
Monday, 24 September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
Team 1 travelled to Myitta village by road, with stops at various places
along the way to meet with local people. In Myitta, the Team held a
number of meetings with local people, as well as with the commander of
Myitta army camp. In the afternoon, the Team returned to Dawei, again
stopping at various places along the way to meet with local people and a
religious representative. <br><br>
In the evening, Team 1 met with a number of local people in various
locations in Dawei town. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 held meetings during the day with various representatives of
international NGOs and UN agencies in Maungdaw, various administrative
officials of PDCs at the district, township and ward levels, as well as
with local people. <br><br>
Team 2 also visited a number of villages in Maungdaw South and met with
VPDC officials and local people. <br><br>
<br>
Tuesday, 25 September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 had meetings with the Divisional Judge, with the
Dawei District Commissioner, and with a Lt-Col from the army. <br><br>
In the afternoon, Team 1 flew to Mawlamyine airport, Mon State. The Team
then had a meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Southeast Region Commander.
<br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 visited a number of villages by boat on the Naf river, where they
met with VPDC members, NaSaKa and police officials, as well as several
villagers. <br><br>
Team 2 also met with a township judge in Maungdaw. <br><br>
<br>
Wednesday, 26 September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
Team 1 travelled byroad fromMawlamyine to Hpa-an, the capital of Kayin
State, taking a route which passed through the villages of Zathabyin and
Eindu. The Team stopped at several places along the way and met with
villagers, VPDC officials and the leader of a faction of the KNU that had
agreed a ceasefire with the authorities. <br><br>
In Hpa-an, Team 1 met with the Kayin State Commissioner and the Kayin
State Judge. <br><br>
Team 1 then returned to Mawlamyine, this time via a different route, and
again stopped along the way and met a number of villagers. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 travelled by helicopter to two villages in the far north of
Rakhine State, on the border with Bangladesh, where they met NaSaKa
officials, VPDC officials, and a number of villagers. <br><br>
Team 2 also visited avillage in Rathedaung township, where they met
villagers and a VPDC official. <br><br>
In the afternoon, Team 2 travelled to Mrauk-U town, in the eastern part
of Rakhine State. <br><br>
<br>
Thursday 27, September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 met with a number of local residents and religious
representatives in Mawlamyine. <br><br>
In the afternoon in Mawlamyine, Team 1 met with the Prison Group Director
for southeast Myanmar and held a second meeting with Brig-Gen Myint Swe,
Southeast Region Commander. <br><br>
In the evening, Team 1 met with Nai Shwe Kyin, President of the New Mon
State Party, which has agreed a ceasefire with the authorities.=20
<br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 visited a number of villages, towns and other locations on the
road from Mrauk-U to Kyauktaw and Minbya. <br><br>
The Team met with several military officers, police officers, VPDC
officials and local residents in these areas. <br><br>
<br>
Friday, 28 September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 returned to Yangon by air. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 met with a TPDC official, a township judge, and various other
people in Mrauk U town. In the afternoon, Team 2 returned to Yangon by
air. <br><br>
<br>
Sunday, 30 September <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
At 1400 Team 1 arrived at Lashio airport in northern Shan State.
<br><br>
In the afternoon, Team 1 had a meeting with Brig-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung
Myint Oo, Northeastern Region Commander. <br><br>
In the evening, Team 1 visited a police station in Lashio. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 2 arrived at Loikaw airport in Kayah State.
<br><br>
In the afternoon, the Team met with Brig-Gen Nyunt Hlein, commander of an
Infantry Division in Loikaw. <br><br>
The Team also met with a prominent church leader; representatives of the
Karenni National People's Liberation Front (KNPLF) ceasefire group; some
military personnel and their mules at an Animal Transport Company; as
well as a number of local residents. <br><br>
<br>
Monday, 1 October <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 travelled by car to Hsipaw, and stopped at a
number of places on the way where they met VPDC officials and local
residents. <br><br>
At Hsipaw, the Team met with the TPDC Chairman. In the afternoon, the
Team travelled from Hsipaw in the direction of Mong Yai, and stopped at a
number of villages and army agricultural plantations. <br><br>
In the evening, the Team met in Lashio with a number of local residents
and representatives of religious groups. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
Team 2 visited a number of villages in Loikaw, Demawso and Hpruso
townships, and met with local residents. <br><br>
The Team also met in Loikaw with the Kayah State Judge. <br><br>
<br>
Tuesday, 2 October <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 drove south from Lashio to Nampong village, and
stopped at various villages and army-owned plantations along the way.
They met with a number of military personnel at these plantations, as
well as talking to local residents in the area. <br><br>
In Nampong, the Team met with VPDC officials, police officers, an army
battalion commander, and local residents. <br><br>
In the afternoon, Team 1 planned to fly to Myitkyina in Kachin State, but
was prevented from doing so by bad weather conditions at the destination.
<br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 2 drove from Loikaw to Taunggyi in southern Shan
State, via Hsi Hseng. The Team stopped at various places along the road
and met with a number of local residents. <br><br>
The Team also stopped at a railway construction site (of the Taunggyi to
Namhsam railway) where they met with the deputy minister for rail
transportation. <br><br>
<br>
Wednesday, 3 October <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 1 again tried to fly to Myitkyina in Kachin State,
but was again prevented by bad weather conditions at the destination. The
Team therefore decided to fly back to Yangon. <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
In the morning in Taunggyi, Team 2 met with Maj-Gen Maung Bo, Eastern
Region Commander. <br><br>
The Team then travelled to a number of villages in the Taunggyi area, and
met with a number of residents of these villages. <br><br>
<br>
Thursday, 4 October <br><br>
Team 1 <br><br>
Yangon <br><br>
Team 2 <br><br>
In the morning, Team 2 flew back to Yangon. <br><br>
<br>
(d) Wrap-up meetings in Yangon <br><br>
<br>
Friday, 5 October <br><br>
1030 Meeting with Convention 29 Implementation Committee <br><br>
1500 Meeting with HE Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State
Peace and Development Council, together with General Maung Aye and Lt-Gen
Khin Nyunt <br><br>
1800 Meeting with representatives of the international business community
<br><br>
<br>
Saturday, 6 October <br><br>
1000 Meeting with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National
League for Democracy (NLD) <br><br>
1200 Meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs
<br><br>
1615 Meeting with the United Nations Country Team <br><br>
1700 Meeting with the diplomatic community <br><br>
1950 Depart Yangon for Bangkok <br><br>
<br><br>
(e) Meetings and visits across the Thai border <br><br>
Sunday, 7 October <br><br>
0900 Meeting with representatives of the Burmese Border Consortium
<br><br>
1030 Meeting with researchers with information on the situation on the
Myanmar-Bangladesh border <br><br>
Monday, 8 October to Wednesday, 10 October <br><br>
On the morning of Monday, 8 October, the HLT flew from Bangkok to Mae
Sot. The HLT had a meeting with the Karen Human Rights Group and then
spent three days in Mae Sot and the surrounding area interviewing 80
persons from Myanmar with recent information relevant to the HLT's
mandate. The HLT also had the opportunity of meeting senior
representatives from the National Democratic Front (NDF), an umbrella
organization of ethnic nationalities groups. <br><br>
<br>
Thursday, 11 October to Friday, 12 October <br><br>
On the morning of Thursday, 11 October, the HLT flew from Mae Sot to
Chiang Mai. Since the HLT had been unable to travel to Myitkyina in
Kachin State, it took the opportunity in Chiang Mai of meeting with a
representative of the Kachin Independence Organisation, a group which has
a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar authorities. The HLT also had a
meeting with Burma Relief Centre and EarthRights International. The HLT
then drove to the town of Fang. On Friday, 12 October, the HLT
interviewed 26 persons from Myanmar with recent information relevant to
its mandate. <br><br>
*******************************<br><br>
Appendix VII <br><br>
Map of Myanmar <br><br>
Map No. 4168 UNITED NATIONS July 2001 Department of Public Information
Cartographic Section <br><br>
********************************<br><br>
Appendix VIII <br><br>
Myanmar terms, acronyms, and alternative spellings of places visited
<br><br>
Places visited <br><br>
Official spelling used in this report -- Alternative spelling <br><br>
Dawei (capital of Tanintharyi Division) -- Tavoy <br><br>
Hpa-an (capital of Kayin State) -- Pa-an <br><br>
Lashio( town in northern ShanState) =96 <br><br>
Loikaw (capital of Kayah State) =96 <br><br>
Mawlamyine (capital of Mon State) -- Moulmein Sittwe (capital of Rakhine
State) -- Akyab Taunggyi (capital of Shan State) =96 Yangon (capital of
Myanmar) -- Rangoon <br><br>
Kayah (State) -- Karenni Kayin (State) -- Karen Mon (State) =96 Rakhine
(State) -- Arakan Tanintharyi (Division) -- Tenasserim <br><br>
Myanmar terms <br><br>
kyat: unit of currency of Myanmar <br><br>
Regional Commander: commander of one of the 12 military regions (the
regional commanders, together with the other senior commanders of the
armed forces, make up the SPDC) <br><br>
township: town and the surrounding region and village tracts constituting
an administrative unit <br><br>
village tract: group of villages constituting an administrative unit
<br><br>
Acronyms <br><br>
PDC: Peace and Development Council (administrative body operating at the
village-tract, township, district, state/ divisional and State levels)
<br><br>
SPDC: State Peace and Development Council (Myanmar's ruling body)
<br><br>
DPDC: District Peace and Development Council (administrative body at the
district level) <br><br>
TPDC: Township Peace and Development Council (administrative body at the
township level) <br><br>
VPDC: Village-tract Peace and Development Council (administrative body at
the village tract level) <br><br>
ATB: Animal Transport Battalion (military battalion of mules for
transport of military supplies) <br><br>
NaSaKa: Border security force (under the command of the military)
<br><br>
NLD: National League for Democracy <br><br>
*****************************************<br><br>
Appendix IX <br><br>
Summary of the meeting between the HLT and Senior General Than Shwe
<br><br>
Friday, 5 October 2001, Yangon, 3.00-4.15 p.m. <br><br>
Present: The HLT, Senior General Than Shwe, General Maung Aye, Lt-Gen.
Khin Nyunt <br><br>
1. Senior General Than Shwe expressed his pleasure at having the
opportunity of meeting with the HLT. He explained that, in Myanmar, there
was a great tradition according to which everything should be done to
ensure that visitors were respected and welcomed. He added that the HLT
had now been in the country for some time. It had been able to visit and
interact with the people of Myanmar and make its own assessment of the
situation. <br><br>
2. Senior General Than Shwe provided the HLT with information concerning
the situation prevailing in the country. He explained that, even though
the army was governing the country, it never really intended to assume
that responsibility. The conditions in the country compelled the army to
do so. Myanmar was a country comprised of 135 different ethnic groups.
The non-disintegration of the country was of the utmost importance. In
this regard, the task of the army was difficult and complicated. Unity
could only be ensured through a process of pacification and development
of the country. However, this process had been from the outset of the
country's independence jeopardized by the insurgency issue, which had
created instability and unrest. For Senior General Than Shwe, peace and
stability could only be achieved with a strong central government. This
was why the army had launched massive military operations against the
insurgents. However, they realised that the solution could not rely only
on military means and had to include political elements. That was the
reason why the army had initiated discussions with insurgent groups.
These negotiations had turned out to be particularly complex and
difficult and had lasted in some cases up to five years before an
agreement was reached. Out of the 18 insurgent groups recognised by the
government, only one group had not yet signed a ceasefire agreement.
Senior General Than Shwe explained that discussions with this group were
still going on since they knew that it was only through peace and
stability that the country could be developed. The authorities had to use
a lot of patience for the process to be successful. History revealed that
previous governments were not successful in achieving peace because they
were not willing to listen to the insurgents' wishes, such as the desire
to maintain the control of their areas and the possibility of keeping
their arms. This the present government understood. Ten years had been
necessary to reach a certain level of understanding. As the HLT had
surely observed, many areas of the country were very backward and the
army really wanted to take all necessary measures to develop them, that
is, provide them with schools, roads, hospitals, and so forth.
Furthermore, the authorities were also seriously working on the drug
issue and had undertaken a vast program of crop substitution. Senior
General Than Shwe said that he was mentioning this issue in order to show
that the army had not only to tackle the labour issue, but also a number
of others that were affecting the well-being of the people of Myanmar.
<br><br>
3. As regards more specifically the assessment of the HLT, Senior General
Than Shwe explained that the authorities of Myanmar were not discouraged
by international scrutiny. In fact, he said that they had learnt a lot
from it. Of course, the country had its own goals and objectives and it
had to draw lessons from its history. Today, the goal on which the SPDC
was focussing was the building of a strong democracy based on three
prerequisites: stability and peace; strong central government; and a
flourishing economy. For 27 years, the country had been governed by a
socialist regime. In those times, the country received a lot of
assistance. Now that the authorities were trying to build a democratic
country, he observed that they were facing a lot of resistance from the
international community. This reluctance, he believed, would only delay
the process leading to democracy. He recalled his attachment to the
teachings of Buddhism, and insisted on the fact that even if they were
from the military, they were trying to govern according to the Rule of
Law. Many of the laws that were being applied by the courts were
inherited from the British time. The courts were not military, they were
civilian. In concluding, he insisted on the fact that the military had no
desire to persecute their own people and that they would never let the
armed forces become the enemy of the people of Myanmar. <br><br>
4. Sir Ninian thanked Senior General Than Shwe for having agreed to meet
with the HLT. He also expressed the HLT's gratitude for the way the
authorities had fulfilled their commitment not to interfere with its
work. He took note of Senior General Than Shwe's concern as regards the
attitude of the international community and the additional delay in
achieving democracy that this could imply. However, Sir Ninian insisted
on the fact that the HLT visited the country with the aim of assisting
it. The HLT had not come simply to blame the country. Sir Ninian thanked
Senior General Than Shwe, since the arrangements made for it by the
Government had proceeded very smoothly and that had surely involved a lot
of hard work on the part of the authorities. Sir Ninian stressed that the
HLT trusted that the authorities would honour in the same impeccable
manner the other side of their solemn commitment, that regarding persons
or organisations with whom the HLT had had contact and who sometimes
seemed worried about their security despite the assurances of the
Government which the HLT had transmitted. For Sir Ninian, this involved
not only a moral obligation, but was an essential part of the
confidence-building with the international community involved in the
visit of the HLT. <br><br>
5. Sir Ninian observed that the HLT had established many contacts during
its visit to the country. However, it had not reached its conclusions
yet; as the authorities were aware, these conclusions would take the form
of a report addressed to the ILO. For the sake of full transparency, Sir
Ninian informed Senior General Than Shwe that the HLT had been offered
the possibility of having contact with other groups =96 &quot;by no means
friendly&quot; =96 outside the country. The HLT had decided to avail itself
of this opportunity and the authorities of Myanmar could rest assured
that the HLT would exercise the same degree of critical judgement in that
phase of its work as it had exercised during its time in Myanmar.
<br><br>
6. Sir Ninian stressed that the members of the HLT were not at this point
in a position to definitely form a common judgement, since this would
require a careful analysis of the notes of the respective visits carried
out by its two groups. However, he said that the members of the HLT felt
that the opportunity that had been given to them to meet with the Head of
State provided them with the possibility to share with him some of their
very preliminary impressions and to discuss possible ways in which the
ILO and the international community could further assist the SPDC's
efforts to eradicate the problem of forced labour. <br><br>
7. Sir Ninian said that the HLT took note of the efforts which had been
made to disseminate the Orders. He believed that even if these efforts
had been uneven, it was an important step to show commitment. But for the
HLT, it was not enough to have the Orders publicised. The most important
issue was their effective implementation. In this regard, Sir Ninian said
that the HLT was sceptical about the argument heard during the first week
of its visit that the absence of criminal prosecution was evidence that
forced labour had disappeared once the Orders had been made public.
Further discussions and observations had revealed that violations were
not dealt with as criminal offences as they were supposed to be, and that
the Orders might not be being obeyed by the military in remote areas =96 or
even not so remote areas =96 despite efforts to make them known and
applied. Sir Ninian added, however, that the HLT was encouraged by
Secretary-1's statement asking to be informed of violations and his
willingness to accept the recommendations that the HLT might share with
the authorities as regards obstacles that existed to full implementation
of the Orders. Sir Ninian said that the HLT was acutely aware that hardly
one year had passed since the adoption of the Supplementary Order and
that this was not a very long time to eradicate a problem which had been
endemic in the country. The real challenge would be to satisfy the
international community that despite the shortcomings that the HLT might
have observed, there was a positive and sustainable trend. <br><br>
8. For Sir Ninian, it was obvious that this one-time exercise of the HLT
could hardly be repeated in order to confirm a long-term trend. He
believed that the best way to ensure appropriate assistance from the ILO
and through it from the international community in this long-term process
that the Head of State had ably described would be to allow the
establishment of an ILO permanent presence. In itself, this idea was not
new. It had been proposed in the past and did not meet with an official
refusal. If there were an ILO presence =96 authorised to go everywhere
without restrictions =96 Sir Ninian considered that this would surely have
a positive impact on the general opinion of the international community.
Of course, the HLT was aware that an ILO presence was only one among the
many and complex steps that could contribute to the effective eradication
of forced labour, as had been mentioned by the Head of State, i. e.
pacification, economic development and modernisation of the country.
However, the HLT was convinced that this step was key to the others. Sir
Ninian said that he personally sincerely hoped that the ILO presence
could be readily acceptable to the authorities. The establishment of an
ILO presence with meaningful facilities would send a powerful message to
the international community about the real commitment of the authorities
to eradicate the problem of forced labour and beyond that to engage in a
process of modernisation with which forced labour was completely
incompatible. Sir Ninian added that the message would be all the more
powerful if this presence could be seen positively by all sides involved
in the ongoing dialogue. <br><br>
9. Sir Ninian took the opportunity of the meeting with the Head of State
to inform the authorities that the HLT had committed itself to meet again
with a number of persons before it departed from Myanmar, for instance,
the business community (both local and international), the UN, the
diplomatic community, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. While these meetings were
more a matter of courtesy, Sir Ninian wanted to make it clear =96 in the
same spirit of full transparency mentioned before =96 that meeting withs
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi could also greatly contribute to reassuring the
international community that an ILO presence represented a true element
of convergence in the ongoing dialogue. <br><br>
10. In concluding, Sir Ninian indicated that, while the specific content
of the HLT report was still to be determined, two things were certain.
First, that its content would, through the ILO, be made available to the
authorities of Myanmar. Second, that all the members of the HLT had faith
in the capacity of this country and its inhabitants to achieve the place
they deserved in the international community and to participate in the
promotion of respect of fundamental human rights. Sir Ninian believed it
was courageous for the country to have accepted this
&quot;intrusive&quot; international scrutiny. <br><br>
***************************************<br>
END OF PART 2 (OF 3)<br><br>
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