Statement by FTUB

[aungsan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Date June 12, 1998.

Statement upon unlawful arrested of two unionists


(1) It has been a year pass since trade union leaders U Khin Kyaw and U
Myo
Aung Thant along with their family members were arrested by military
junta
on June 13, 1997. The two activists are the Central Executive Committee
members of the Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB).

(2) U Myo Aung Thant and U Khin Kyaw had been accused of performing
violent
activities. U Myo Aung Thant was charged for life imprisonment; still, U

Khin Kyaw is not brought up to the court and his fate is in uncertain
until
now.

(3) In fact that the two activists have organized the workers inside to
protect their respective rights due to international norms. Burma is a
country that ratified the ILO Convention (87) and (98): freedom of
association and the right to organize; still, the regime is not willing
to
allow free trade union movement since they took power in 1962.  This
incidence was very obvious example that there is no rule of law in
Burma.

(4) The present Burmese regime is not only disrespecting the Workers
Rights, which is chartered by ILO, but it is also violating the Basic
human
rights prescribed in UN charters.

(5) On the other hand, military junta hinder day to day activities of
the
National League for Democracy, and others. This shows that the regime is

responsible for all sorts of obstacles in the way to democratization in
Burma.

(6) Thus, we demand that the following situation must be changed;

1.  Release U Myo Aung Thant, U Khin Kyaw and all political prisoners
unconditionally.

2.  Recognize the result of the 1990 elections.

3.  Respect the decision of NLD party congress, which was taken on 27th
May
1998.

4.  Guarantee the Rights of Free Trade Union to exist and function.


Federation of Trade Unions-Burma