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ILO REPORT ON FL IN BURMA: SLICE 14



[ILO COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA, SLICE
14]
 
(5) Work on agriculture, logging, 
     and other production projects
 
(a) Information provided to the Commission
 
394. Nature and conditions of work. Information provided to
the Commission indicated that villagers, and to a lesser
extent urban residents, were forced to work on a variety of
projects undertaken by the authorities, in particular the
military. These projects included cultivation of rice, other
food crops, cash crops such as rubber, shrimp farms, kilns for
producing bricks, and logging activities. The produce might be
used by the military, but in many cases it was simply sold.
The income generated did not go to the villagers, but either
went into the funds of the military unit exacting the labour,
or individuals within that unit. Some money might be paid to
commanders outside the unit itself. In most cases the military
unit involved was the local army camp or battalion (including
NaSaKa units in areas where these operate), but larger schemes
might be implemented at the Light Infantry Division or
Regional Command level.(580)
 
395. For cultivation, the forced labour of villagers was used
for the entire process, from clearing the land to harvesting
the crop. For logging, villagers had to fell the trees and saw
them into timber. For brick-making, they had to provide the
raw materials and fuel in addition to labour for the process.
The villagers were not paid and had to provide their own tools
and equipment. Often, the land on which cultivation projects
were implemented was confiscated from villagers without
compensation. In certain cases, land with an existing crop was
confiscated without compensation, the owners of the land were
forced to continue tending that crop, and when ready the crop
had to be given to the military. In other cases, the process
appeared to be one of direct extortion: a village was simply
ordered to deliver a certain quantity of crop to the military
at the end of the season, and it was up to that village to
arrange land, obtain seed or seedlings, and tend and harvest
the crop. The villagers were not remunerated in any way. In
the extreme case, harvested crops were simply seized by the
military; poultry, livestock and other items were similarly
seized. Theft of such property was most common in areas
recently occupied by the military, or areas with insurgent
activity.(581)
 
396. Specific examples. Information received by the Commission
in this regard covered most areas of Myanmar, including
Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Shan and Rakhine States and Bago,
Sagaing and Tanintharyi Divisions. This kind of work was more
common in areas where the military had a more well-established
presence. Information was received that several battalions in
Tanintharyi Division(582) had used forced labour on projects
they controlled for their own benefit or that of their
officers.(583)
 
397. The largest volume of information received related to the
cultivation of food and cash crops for the military. These
crops included rice, vegetables such as beans and corn, sugar
cane and rubber for a number of battalions in Kachin,(584)
Kayah,(585) Kayin,(586) Mon,(587) Rakhine(588) and Shan(589)
States and Bago,(590) Sagaing(591) and Tanintharyi(592)
Divisions. In Rakhine State, Muslims were also forced by the
military to do cultivation work for Burmese and Rakhine
villagers.(593) The information covered a period from before
1994 to at least 1997. 
 
398. Information was received regarding the use of forced
labour for logging and bamboo cutting that appeared to be for
commercial purposes. The information covered Kayin,(594)
Mon,(595) and Shan(596) States and Sagaing(597) and
Tanintharyi(598) Divisions over the period from 1992 to the
present.
 
399. Information was received regarding the use of forced
labour for animal husbandry, most commonly at shrimp farms.
The information was from Rakhine State(599) and Sagaing
Division.(600) The information covers a period from 1989 to at
least 1995.
 
400. Information was received regarding the operation by
military units of kilns for the production of bricks. There
was information of forced labour for the collection of fuel
for the kilns and work on the kilns themselves, in Kayin
State,(601) Rakhine State(602) and Tanintharyi Division.(603)
The information covers a period from at least 1994 to 1996.
 
 
(b) Oral testimony
 
401. Evidence from witnesses revealed that throughout the
country the military conduct activities such as cultivation,
fish and shrimp farming, forestry and manufacturing which are
likely to enable them either to meet their material needs or
produce profit. The evidence also shows that they mobilize the
population, forcing the people to carry out these activities
in difficult conditions.
 
402. Fifty-eight witnesses gave evidence to this effect,(604)
thus enabling the Commission to identify some of the common
practices of the military.
 
403. Some witnesses were forced to cut wood and bamboo, which
the military subsequently sold.(605) Other witnesses were
obliged to farm fish(606) or prawns(607) for the military,
including all associated work, from the setting-up of the
project to its continued maintenance.
 
404. Several witnesses were coerced into agricultural
activities which are organized in various ways. In some cases
the military seize the land from villagers, without
compensation, and forces them to cultivate it for their
benefit.(608) Witnesses claimed to have had to leave Myanmar
because they no longer had enough land to make a living.(609)
In other cases, the military oblige the workers to cultivate
land located within the military camp,(610) or to clear the
forest or jungle near the camp so as to make this land
suitable for cultivation.(611) The military often specify the
quantity of the crop to be produced. If this quantity is not
produced, the villagers have to make up the difference under
pain of sanction.(612)
 
405. Witnesses who supplied relevant evidence referred to
crops of chillies,(613) corn,(614) rice,(615) rubber,(616)
walnuts,(617) sugar cane(618) and pineapple.(619)
 
406. One person per family is usually requisitioned to perform
the agricultural work,(620) the order specifying the tasks to
be done being transmitted through the intermediary of the
village head.(621) The witnesses stated that they had received
no pay for the work performed and had to supply their own
food, tools or oxen for ploughing.(622)
 
407. Finally, the evidence reveals that the military
occasionally enter villages and seized, without any 
compensation, whatever animals or crops they find.(623)
 
 
(6) Construction and maintenance 
    of roads, railways and bridges
 
(a) Documentary material
 
408. Nature and conditions of work. The Commission received
considerable detailed information concerning the use of forced
labour on the construction of roads and railways. These ranged
in size from small projects using the labour of a few local
villages such as the clearing of a dirt road to a newly-
established military camp(624) to those using tens or hundreds
of thousands of labourers. For example, the government stated
in comments to the ILO that "799,447 working people ...
contributed voluntary labour"(625) for the construction of the
Aungban to Loikaw railway connecting Shan and Kayah States;
elsewhere it has stated that 921,753 people contributed to the
building of the Pakokku to Monywa section of a railway in
Magway and Sagaing Divisions connecting Chaung-U to Kalaymyo
via Pakokku,(626) and that over 44,000 people were
"contributing voluntary labour" on a single day on three
sections of the Ye to Dawei (Tavoy) railway between Mon State
and Tanintharyi Division in January 1994.(627)
 
409. Witnesses informed the Commission that those persons from
whom they had obtained secondary statements consistently told
them that the projects which they had been forced to work on
did benefit them. This was in part because local forms of
transport (of which the most common was the bullock cart) were
not permitted to use these roads; in general only motor
vehicles could use them, and the vast majority of villagers
did not own such vehicles.(628) 
 
410. Once a project was completed, this did not necessarily
mean an end to forced labour connected with it. Often on
completion of a road or railway, particularly in conflict
areas, people were forced to work as unarmed sentries guarding
it at night, and to sweep roads for mines before troops pass,
as discussed in paragraphs 374-388 above. People also had to
provide labour for the maintenance of the project, and repair
it in the event of damage. In the rainy season, roads and
other infrastructure often washed out, and so more forced
labour was required to repair them in the following months
(around November to January). In particular, because roads
were usually not sealed, were in any case poorly constructed
and sometimes traversed paddy fields, they were damaged easily
and most had to be rebuilt every year.(629)
 
411. In rural areas a given household might have to provide a
worker for as much as two weeks in a month, and sometimes
even more, especially if there was more than one project being
carried out simultaneously. This was in addition to any other
forced labour demands, such as portering or work at military
camps. In some cases when a project was particularly urgent or
important, all the able-bodied persons from a village were
required to participate in the work. It should be noted that
the forced labour requirement for these projects appeared to
be significantly less in urban areas than in rural villages.
 
412. In addition to the forced labour of civilians, there were
also a number of labour camps across the country where
prisoners(630) were used for the purpose of constructing
roads, railways, and other infrastructure, or working in
quarries to provide materials for such construction. These
prisoners frequently worked in heavy shackles. Members of the
Tatmadaw were also required to work on such projects.(631)
 
413. The Commission was provided with detailed information on
the working conditions of forced labourers. People might
have to travel considerable distances to work sites,
particularly for more extensive projects requiring large
numbers of labourers. There was information that people from
as far 100 km away were forced to work on the construction of
the railway from Ye to Dawei (Tavoy).(632) In general it
appeared to be common for workers to have to walk for several
hours to reach a work site.(633) When a village, household or
worker was required to complete a given amount of work (a
given length of embankment, a given number of kyin(634) of
excavation or crushed stones), they were not able to leave
until that work was completed. Often, a time period was
specified within which the work had to be completed. If the
work was not completed to the satisfaction of the soldiers
supervising the work (if the work was done slowly, or was of
bad quality, for example), that village, household or worker
would not be allowed to return home, and those involved might
be beaten or otherwise punished.
 
414. Workers usually had to arrange their own transport to the
work site, though in some cases owners of suitable transport
would be ordered to provide free transport for workers at
their own cost.(635) Workers usually had to bring their own
food and necessary tools, though in certain circumstances
tools were provided (when the population would not normally
own the necessary tools, either because it was an urban
population, or because the work required special tools). If
they became sick, they were not treated, and usually had to
pay a fine or arrange a replacement to enable them to return
to their village to seek medical attention.(636) If they were
injured they were in most cases neither treated nor given any
compensation.(637) Deaths from sickness and work accidents
appeared to be frequent on some projects.(638)
 
415. People forced to work on these projects were not paid,
other than in exceptional circumstances.(639) The Commission
received information that forced labourers were paid in some
circumstances for work on the railway from Ye to Dawei
(Tavoy), but this was the only project for which the
Commission received such information, and even on this project
payment was rare and often at rates far below prevailing
market rates;(640) payment did not appear to have continued,
as there were several reports of unpaid forced labour on the
project in 1997.(641)
 
416. If a worker was required from each household, this was
usually irrespective of the number of able-bodied persons in
the household, so that if a household consisted of a widow and
her child, she would have to go and either take her child with
her or arrange for someone else to look after it.(642) If
there was only one adult male in a household and he had to
work for the family's income, another member of the household
would have to go or the family would starve. This was
especially true in the rainy season, which was the busiest
period for farmers, but also the most dangerous at work sites
because of the increased prevalence of disease and increased
risk of injury or death from landslides and collapsing
embankments.(643) Thus, not only was there a large proportion
of women, children and older workers at work sites, but they
were more likely to be at risk from disease and
accidents.(644) Such people were also particularly vulnerable
to abuse at the hands of the soldiers.(645) 
 
417. Once they arrived at the work site, workers would usually
have to make their own arrangements for accommodation. This
meant arranging to stay at a nearby village, or building some
kind of shelter at the work site. Often, workers simply had to
sleep at the work site with no shelter.(646) There was usually
no sanitation or other facilities of any kind provided at work
sites. For some larger projects, however, which had work sites
established for longer periods of time, some facilities such
as sanitation and shelter might be present, though these had
been constructed using the forced labour of other villagers.
 
418. The workers were usually supervised by the military,
though on certain projects soldiers might not be actually
present all the time. Since the military knew who had been
assigned to which section, they were able to take action if a
certain piece of work was not completed, and thus did not
necessarily need to be present while the work was being
carried out (though they often were). Workers were usually
forced to work for long hours, typically between eight and 12
hours per day,(647) with only a one-hour break for lunch in
the middle of the day. Workers were usually not permitted to
take rest breaks at other times.(648) Workers were subject to
verbal and physical abuse by the soldiers overseeing the
project, particularly if they were not working to the
satisfaction of the soldiers; some workers had died as a
result of physical abuse.(649) Cases of soldiers raping female
workers were not uncommon.(650) Punishments given to workers
in cases where they were perceived to be working badly or
refused to carry out forced labour included kickings,
punchings, beatings with canes, sticks or pieces of bamboo,
arrest and detention at a military camps, confinement in
stocks, or in some cases severe torture or execution.(651)
 
419. Specific examples. The Commission received extensive and
detailed information regarding the use of forced labour in
connection with road construction, repair and improvement
projects. The information covered all fourteen States and
Divisions in Myanmar.
 
420. There was information regarding the use of forced labour
on the construction or improvement of major road projects in
many parts of the country. These included a road from
Myitkyina to Putao (through Sumprabum) in Kachin State, in
1994 and 1995;(652) the Mandalay ring road in 1994 and
1995;(653) parts of the Yangon to Mandalay highway (through
Toungoo) from 1994 to at least 1996;(654) a road from Haka in
Chin State to Gangaw in Magway Division in 1996 and 1997(655)
and from Gangaw to Kalaymyo in Sagaing Division in 1995;(656)
the highway from Yangon to Sittway (Rakhine State) since 1988
and a four-lane road continuing from Sittway on to Taungpyo on
the Bangladesh border in 1991 and 1992;(657) the Labutta to
Yangon road (through Myaungmya, Pantanaw and Nyaungdone)
linking Yangon and Ayeyarwady Divisions, over the past few
years;(658) and on a road linking Ye in Mon State with
Kawthaung in the far south of Tanintharyi Division, through
Dawei (Tavoy) and Myeik (Mergui), since 1994.(659)
 
421. In addition to these major road projects, the information
provided to the Commission indicated that in various parts of
the country extensive networks of roads were constructed with
forced labour, particularly in areas recently-occupied by the
military after offensives against opposition groups. A
considerable volume of information was provided regarding the
construction of a major road network throughout Kayin State
and bordering areas of Bago Division,(660) between 1993 and
1998, as well as on the upgrading of some existing roads in
the area.(661) Forced labour was also used on a regular basis
for crushing stone in Kyaukkyi township for road
construction.(662) The road network in Chin State(663) was
also improved and extended over the last few years using
forced labour,(664) and in Shan State the network of roads in
certain areas in the south of the State(665) has been improved
with forced labour since at least 1992, but particularly since
1996.(666) In Tanintharyi Division, in addition to the road
from Ye to Kawthaung mentioned in paragraph 420 above, there
appeared to be two particular areas where road networks were
being developed with forced labour: in the area of Tanintharyi
town since 1994, and particularly since 1996,(667) and in the
area around Kanbauk in Yebyu township in 1995.(668)
 
_____________________
 
NOTES
 
 
580. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0028, 032-2424, M42-7170. 
 
581. Karen Human Rights Group, 032-2424, M42-7170. 
 
582. LIBs 401 through 410 and battalions 25, 265, 280. 
 
583. Mon Information Service, M56-7426. 
 
584. The information mentioned the confiscation of land in
Waimaw township in 1994 by IB 29, who then forced villagers to
cultivate sugar cane and rice for the battalion on this land.
More recent information indicates that LIB 321 forced
villagers from a number of villages near Myitkyina to work for
the whole season on their paddy fields, that villagers were
also forced to work for LIB 384 on paddy fields which had been
confiscated from them in Momauk township, and do similar work
for LIBs 385 and 386 in Mohnyin township. See HRDU, 001-0167;
Mirante, I/51-52. 
 
585. In 1994, Battalions 336, 421 and 422 each reportedly
confiscated 1,000 acres of land from villages in the northern
part of the State and then forced villagers to carry out
cultivation work on this land. In 1996, villagers who had been
relocated to Shadaw were reportedly forced to clear land for
the army to grow beans. See Karen Human Rights Group,
001-0436, 154-5083. 
 
586. Forced labour was reportedly used on the following
projects: cultivation of land in Kawkareik township, which had
been confiscated from villagers, for battalions 330, 355 and
356; carrying out rice cultivation for the army and DKBA on
land confiscated from villagers in Nabu in Kawkareik township;
cultivation of rubber plantations for LIBs 547 and 549 in
Kawkareik township in 1997. Karen Human Rights Group,
001-0444, 001-0586, 001-0592 to 0593; Amnesty International,
099-3896; Min Lwin, H06-5767 to 5776, H06-5783 to 5784,
H06-5791 to 5794. 
 
587. It appears that in 1995 villagers from Ye North township
were forced to cultivate vegetables for LIB 106 on land which
had been confiscated by the Battalion. See Karen Human Rights
Group, 001-0175. 
 
588. Villagers were reportedly forced to work clearing land
for the NaSaKa in Maungdaw township and cultivating rice for
several battalions in Sittway (Akyab) township in 1994 and
1995. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0445; Human Rights
Watch/Refugees International, 154-5404. 
 
589. It appears that LIB 510 forced villagers at Kho Lam
relocation site near Namhsam to clear the forest and grow
beans for them; people in Hsipaw township were forced to grow
corn for the military. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0698;
Shan Human Rights Foundation, 147-4621. 
 
590. In 1995, IB 60 and LIB 351 reportedly confiscated a large
area of land in Kyaukkyi township and then forced about
500 local villagers every day to cultivate dry-season rice for
the army on this land. Once the initial cultivation had been
finished, the villagers then had to guard the fields from
wandering animals. See Burma Issues, 001-0539 to 0541. 
 
591. Battalions 87, 89, IB 228, Battalions 362, 363, 365,
Military Intelligence 17 and Training Battalion 10 had all
used forced labour for their cultivation projects in Kalaymyo
township. See Images Asia, 164-8337 to 8338. 
 
592. The following projects were mentioned: exaction of labour
for many years by battalions in Dawei (Tavoy) and Thayetchaung
townships, including LIBs 403, 404 and 405, on their
plantations (in particular, these three battalions forced
villagers in 1997 to construct dykes to form cultivable land
which they then took for themselves; LIB 404 used forced
labour in 1997 to clear land for further rubber cultivation);
by LIBs 406 and 408 for cultivation of land in Yebyu township;
and by military units in Launglon township for rice
cultivation in 1997. There was also information that in 1997,
over 1000 acres of rice fields were confiscated on Pyingyi
Island in Launglon township for the establishment of an
experimental rice cultivation project being implemented by IB
104 and government authorities; more than 500 local people
were then forced to work on this project. See Mon Information
Service, 139-4447 to 4450, M56-7425 to 7429, M57-7432. 
 
593. Human Rights Watch/Asia, 154-4926. 
 
594. The information mentioned cutting trees and working in a
sawmill for LIB 545 in Kyondo in Hpa-an district in 1995 and
sawing logs into timber for Battalion 330 in Kawkaraik
township in 1995. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0586,
001-0592 to 0593, 001-0602.  
 
595. Villagers from Thaton township were reportedly forced by
the military in 1995 to cut large amounts of bamboo, and then
sell this bamboo in Bilin town, with all the money being kept
by the soldiers. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0175. 
 
596. Villagers in Mongping township were reportedly forced to
clear teak trees as part of the work for constructing a camp
for LIB 360 in 1992 (see para. 356 above); these trees were
sold in Kengtung town, with the proceeds reportedly shared by
the commanders of LIB 360 and LIB 43. See Shan Human Rights
Foundation, 001-0334. 
 
597. In March 1997 IB 228 reportedly forced villagers to
transport teak which the soldiers then sold for profit. In
1995 officers from IB 50 also reportedly forced villagers with
bullock carts to smuggle teak logs from India; the group was
arrested by Indian forces, who detained the villagers, but
released the soldiers. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0578,
HRDU, 001-0163 to 0164; Images Asia, 167-8338; Lin, VII/13-15. 
 
598. There is information that LIBs 404 and 406 forced people
to carry out hardwood logging in Yebyu township in 1994 and
1995, with the wood that was not used for construction being
sold by the Battalion; similar work had to be carried out for
LIBs 403, 404, 405 and 406 in Thayetchaung township, until at
least 1997. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-1054 to 1055;
Mon Information Service, 139-4449. 
 
599. There is information that people had to look after
livestock for several battalions in Sittway (Akyab) township
in 1994 and 1995, work on a shrimp farm in Ponnagyun township
since 1989. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0558 to 0559;
Human Rights Watch/Asia, 001-0711; Amnesty International,
064-2962. 
 
600. There is information that people were forced to work on
the digging of 80 fishponds for IB 10 in Kalaymyo township in
1995. See HRDU, 001-0164; Images Asia, 167-8338. 
 
601. There is information that villagers had to cut firewood
to fuel army-owned brick kilns in Kawkareik township;
villagers with bullock carts had to transport wood and bricks
to and from army-owned brick kilns in Kawkareik township; and
villagers had to collect firewood for LIB 545's brick kilns in
Kyondo, with soldiers then selling some of this wood to
villagers. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0629, 001-0632;
Amnesty International, 099-3896. 
 
602. There is information that villagers had to make bricks
for the NaSaKa in Maungdaw township, which the NaSaKa then
sell. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0565; Amnesty
International, 064-2962. 
 
603. There is information that villagers were forced to work
on charcoal- and brick-making projects throughout the
Division; for military brick kilns in Yebyu township; and by
Battalion 280 for its brick kilns in Palaw township in 1997.
Karen Human Rights Group, H24-6423, H24-6478; Mon Information
Service, 043-2653. 
 
604. The witnesses heard on this subject came from the
following groups: Burman (1); Karenni (5); Karen (14); Mon
(1); Muslim other than Rohingya (1); Pa-O (1); Rakhine (1);
Rohingya (27); Shan (5); and Tai (1). 
 
605. See statements of Witnesses 159, 163, 186 and 192. 
 
606. See statement of Witness 97. 
 
607. See statements of Witnesses 8, 19 and 73. 
 
608. See statements of Witnesses 99 and 154. In the case of
the Rohingyas, the confiscated land is sometimes redistributed
to Rakhine people: see statements of Witnesses 18, 71 and 77. 
 
609. See, in particular, statements of Witnesses 33, 40, 44
and 46. 
 
610. See statements of Witnesses 95, 97 and 111. 
 
611. See statements of Witnesses 177 and 186. 
 
612. See statements of Witnesses 99 and 134. 
 
613. See statements of Witnesses 8 and 156. 
 
614. See statement of Witness 137. 
 
615. See statements of Witnesses 21, 24, 99 and 146-148. 
 
616. See statements of Witnesses 123, 151, 186 and 188. 
 
617. See statement of Witness 190. 
 
618. See statements of Witnesses 123 and 151. 
 
619. See statement of Witness 127. 
 
620. See statements of Witnesses 159 and 186. 
 
621. See statements of Witnesses 163, 176, 184 and 186. 
 
622. See statements of Witnesses 18, 145-148, 176 and 186. 
 
623. See statements of Witnesses 93, 103, 124, 155, 176 and
204. 
 
624. For example, Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0189. 
 
625. See para. 156 above; the project is also described in
Myanmar's state press, see Working People's Daily, H14-6099. 
 
626. Human Rights Watch/Asia, 001-0051. 
 
627.  "New Light of Myanmar", H14-6112. 
 
628. See Heppner, XII/55-56; Liddell, V/18; Min Lwin, VI/1; Wa
Wa, II/52-53. For a text of an order prohibiting the use of
bullock carts on motor roads, see order 11 in Appendix XI. 
 
629. Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0027, 001-0030, 032-2425;
Liddell, V/18; Heppner, XII/13, 54. Forced labourers often
produced poor-quality work, putting down branches covered with
a thin layer of mud to level ground and build up embankments.
One reason mentioned for this was that those forced to do the
work would try to finish their assignments as quickly as
possible, taking shortcuts at times when this would not be
noticed. 
 
630. Some of these prisoners were reported to be political
prisoners. See Amnesty International, 064-2961, 085-3491,
098-3874; Karen Human Rights Group, 032-2429; Liddell,
V/22-27; Lin, VII/10-11. 
 
631. While soldiers had been more prominently used recently
for tasks which were previously carried out with civilian
forced labour, this was in the most part restricted to areas
visible to foreigners; there was also information that in
certain other cases where soldiers were seen working, the
majority of the work was nevertheless carried out using
civilian forced labour. See Karen Human Rights Group,
001-0632; Liddell, V/32-34; Lin, VII/49-50, 64; and para. 438
below. See also doc. 176. 
 
632. Liddell, V/18; Heppner, XIII/10. 
 
633. Heppner, XII/58. 
 
634. kyin is a measure of volume equal to 100 cubic feet. 
 
635. Heppner, XII/58. 
 
636. Wa Wa, II/49; Lin, VII/42; Heppner, XII/64. 
 
637. Wa Wa, II/46. 
 
638. Wa Wa, II/45. 
 
639. Payment of small amounts of money was made recently to
labourers forced to work on infrastructure projects, primarily
in areas visible to foreign visitors. See also Lin, VII/12-13;
Heppner, XII/44-45. See also, UNHCR, 033-2435. 
 
640. The official Government contract day labour wage was 10
kyat per day until 1988, 15 kyat per day from 1988 to 1993,
and 20 kyat per day since 1993. In contrast, the market wage
for dry-season day labour in rural areas appears to have been
60-80 kyat per day since the 94/95 fiscal year. See American
Embassy in Rangoon, H13-6009, H13-6082. For a short period in
1996, villagers from Yebyu township were paid local market
rates for labour on the project, and as a result some
villagers reportedly went voluntarily.  
 
641. Mon Information Service, 001-1229, 042-2620, 139-4435,
139-4439 to 4440; Human Rights Documentation Unit, M34-6965.  
 
642. Heppner, XII/12. 
 
643. Heppner, XII/54-55. 
 
644. The only exception appeared to be among the Muslim
population of Rakhine State, where because of cultural mores
women rarely did forced labour; in this population the burden
of forced labour thus fell entirely on the male members of the
household. 
 
645. Human Rights Watch/Asia, 001-0051. 
 
646. Min Lwin, III/32-33. 
 
647. Human Rights Watch Asia, 065-2968, gives the normal
working day for labourers on a section of the Ye to Dawei
(Tavoy) railway as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
 
648. Heppner, XII/64. 
 
649. Human Rights Watch/Asia, 001-0051. 
 
650. Lin, VII/38. 
 
651.  Heppner, XII/31-35, 40-41. 
 
652.  See Amnesty International, 090-3655. In 1994 and 1995
forced labour was used on construction of the section from
Sumprabum to Putao, with 3,000 people reportedly taken from
Putao to work on a remote area of the road construction in
late 1994, scores of whom apparently died because of a lack of
food at the work site. See Human Rights Watch/Asia, 001-0051. 
 
653.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0574 to 0575, 032-2424,
032-2426. 
 
654.  Images Asia, 001-0208 to 0209; Karen Human Rights Group,
001-0528 to 0529, 032-2424. 
 
655.  Images Asia, 167-8301, 167-8306; Karen Human Rights
Group, 028-2338, 154-5136 to 5138. 
 
656.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0577. 
 
657.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0557, 001-0566; Asia
Watch, 107-3942. 
 
658.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0534, 001-0652, 001-0693,
001-0695. 
 
659.  Amnesty International, 001-0500; Mon Information
Service, 008-2053 to 2058, 008-2062, 139-4436, 139-4440 to
4441; Karen Human Rights Group, 001-1367, 001-1371, 154-5040
to 5044, 154-5106, 154-5112 to 5114, H24-6424, H24-6469 to
6472. 
 
660.  The network included the following roads. In Kayin
State: Papun to Bilin (in Mon State), Papun to Kyauknyat
(through Par Haik), Papun to Kamamaung, Saw Hta (in Papun
district) to Kyaukkyi (in Bago Division), Hpa-an to Painkyone,
Hpa-an to Zathabyin (through Shwe Taw), Hpa-an to Dawlan,
Painkyone to Nabu (through Bee T'Ka), Way Sha (Kweshan) to
Than Ma Ya Taung in Myawady township, Dawlan to Pata, Nabu
to Eindu (through Dawlan), Nabu to Kyondo, Nabu to Kawkareik
(through Myatpadine; a wooden bridge was constructed in 1995
as part of this project), Kya In Seik Gyi to Taungbauk, Kya In
Seik Gyi to Chaung Wa (including construction of a wooden
bridge at Chaung Wa in 1996), Kya In Seik Gyi to Kyeikdon, Kya
In Seik Gyi to Kyondo, a bridge in Kya In Seik Gyi township in
1994, Thanbyuzayat (in Mon State) to Three Pagodas Pass, as
well as many other small local roads throughout Kayin State.
In Bago Division: Toungoo to Busakee (through Kaw Thay Der),
Zayatkyi to Tantabin, Shwegyin to Kyaukkyi. 
 
661.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0185 to 0186, 001-0189,
001-0192 to 0197, 001-0376, 001-0451, 001-0480, 001-0488,
001-0551, 001-0607 to 0609, 001-0619 to 0620, 001-0629,
001-0632 to 0637, 001-0904, 001-1342 to 1343, 001-1853 to
1854, 001-1988, 001-1994, 027-2286 to 2288, 027-2292 to 2293,
031-2393 to 2396, 031-2399, 031-2401, 154-4938, 154-4941,
154-5196, H21-6354, H25-6499, M49-7315 to 7316, M49-7350 to
7351, M50-7361, M49-7310, M49-7315 to 7316; Images Asia,
01-0208 to 0209, 001-0216; Human Rights Watch/Asia, 065-2965;
Amnesty International, 091-3694, 093-3748, 099-3896. 
 
662.  Amnesty International, 099-3896. 
 
663.  Construction and improvement of the following roads was
specifically mentioned: Haka to Thantlang, Haka to Falam, Haka
to Gangaw, Haka to Matupi, Matupi to Mindat and Paletwa to
Kuah Daw. It appeared that forced labourers on the Haka to
Matupi and Matupi to Mindat roads were paid 25 kyat of a
promised 100 kyat per kyin of rock crushed for the road (see
Karen Human Rights Group, 154-5140 to 5142). 
 
664.  028-2338 to 2340, 064-2962, 154-5136 to 5144, 167-8301,
167-8306 to 8307, M12-6812. The information included a number
of orders from 1996 requiring civilians to provide labour for
two of these road projects, the widening of the Haka to
Thantlang road and work on the Haka to Gangaw road.  
 
665.  In particular, the following roads were mentioned: from
Salong (in Langkho township) to Mawkmai since 1992; breaking
rocks for the construction of several roads in Langkho and
Mawkmai townships in 1996 and 1997, including Langkho to Wan
Hat and Wan Hat to Mawkmai; breaking rocks for a road from
Mongping to Mong Hsat in 1996 and 1997; repairing the road
from Mongkaing to Hsipaw, as well as other roads around
Hsipaw, in 1996; a road from Laikha town to Panglong (in
Loilem township) in 1996 and 1997; and a road from Laikha to
Mongkaing in 1997. Villagers who had been relocated along
the Laikha to Mong Nawng road were also forced to work on the
construction of that road. 
 
666.  Karen Human Rights Group, 001-0672, 001-0698; Amnesty
International, 099-3895; Shan Human Rights Foundation,
144-4536 to 4537, 145-4553 to 4554, 145-4585, 147-4632,
M34-6964; HRDU, M34-6961.  
 
667.  These roads included Tanintharyi town to the Thai border
at Mawtaung; Boke to Kyay Nan Daing (north of Myeik (Mergui));
from Tanintharyi town north to Ta Po Hta, as well as other
roads in Tanintharyi and Thayetchaung townships. See Karen
Human Rights Group, 001-1242, 154-5040 to 5044, 154-5106,
154-5112 to 5114, H24-6424, H24-6424, H24-6445, H24-6447,
H24-6450 to 6465, H24-6469 to 6472, H24-6475 to 6483,
H24-6485, H24-6487 to 6489; Mon Information Service, 139-4437
to 4439. 
 
668.  The roads identified included Kaleinaung to Kanbauk and
Ohnbinkwin, Pyingyi to Migyaungaing and Migyaunglaung to
Eindayaza. Forced labour was also reportedly used for the
construction of a bridge between Kadaik and Ohnbinkwin in
1995. See Karen Human Rights Group, 001-1120, 001-1124,
001-1359, 001-1367 to 1373. In relation to these roads, TOTAL
informed the Commission that there was no specific pipeline
road network in the area, but that in 1995-96, for the needs
of the project, improvements had been made to the existing
road network in this coastal area and had been carried out by
a French company working under the supervision of TOTAL and
respecting its code of conduct. This work had involved the use
of modern civil works machinery and not in any event to
recourse to forced labourers. See TOTAL, 165-8278 (summarized
in para. 75 above). 
 
[END OF SLICE 14]