The BurmaNet News: September 7, 199

[strider@xxxxxxxxxxx]

------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
 "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: September 7, 1998
Issue #1090

Noted in Passing: "This is the first time any cease-fire group has called
for a dialogue with pro-democracy and ethnic organisations." - U Tin Maung
Win (see NCUB: CEASE-FIRE GROUPS URGE DIALOGUE) 

HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: VETERAN CALLS FOR TALKS 
NCUB: CEASE-FIRE GROUPS URGE DIALOGUE 
THE NATION: STUDENTS END PROTEST, WARN OF MORE 
THE NATION: RIOT POLICE SEAL OFF RANGOON CAMPUS 
SPDC: INTERVIEW WITH LT.-COL. HLA MIN 
REUTERS: WORLD BANK CUTS OFF MYANMAR 
XINHUA (CHINA): JAPAN PROVIDES MORE AID TO MYANMAR 
NRC HANDELSBLAD: C&A RELINQUISHES TRADE WITH BURMA 
ANNOUNCEMENT: ILO REPORT ON THE WEB 
ANNOUNCEMENT: 8888 VIDEO, T-SHIRT; REPORT CARD
****************************************************************

THE NATION: VETERAN CALLS FOR TALKS 
5 September, 1998 

Reuters

RANGOON - One of the six surviving leaders of Burma's independence movement
said yesterday he had appealed to the ruling military and the opposition to
hold urgent talks to resolve their standoff.

Bohmu Aung, one of the country's revered "30 Comrades", said he made the
appeal on behalf of the 23 veteran politicians in letters to the ruling
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and the opposition National
League for Democracy (NLD) on Thursday.

"We earnestly urge the SPDC and the NLD and all the democratic forces,
including the nationalities, to hold talks urgently to resolve all
political problems including the one concerning convening a People's
Parliament," the 88-year-old former minister said in a statement.

His appeal comes at a time when the NLD and the government are on a
collision course.

NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi has announced she will call a People's
Parliament this month as the ruling generals have refused demands to do so.

The government has set the scene for a showdown by warning that the party
could be outlawed if it goes ahead with its plan and that the armed forces
will not stand idly by if it stirs up unrest.

Bohmu Aung, who was detained between 1989 and 1992, has tried on several
occasions to use his influence as founder member of the armed forces to act
as a bridge between the opposition and the government. 

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

NCUB: CEASE-FIRE GROUPS URGE DIALOGUE
4 September, 1998 

Media Release

ETHNIC CEASE-FIRE GROUPS URGE BURMESE MILITARY TO ENTER DIALOGUE

Three cease-fire groups based in Kayah and Shan States in eastern Burma
have called on Burma's military authorities to enter into a dialogue with
opposition groups.

The call was made in a letter to the Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council (SPDC), Senior General Than Shwe, by the Karenni
Nationalities Peoples' Liberation Front (KNPLF), the Kayan Newland Party
(KNP) and the Shan Nationalities Peoples' Liberation Organization (SNPLO).

The letter was signed by chairmen of the three groups, all of which signed
cease-fire agreements with the military in 1994. The letter was sent to the
SPDC on August 11, 1998, and it supported moves by the National League for
Democracy (NLD) to convene parliament. In the letter the three groups state
that they "sincerely believe that the NLD's call to convene Parliament is
just and in accordance with the law, and that there is already a provision
which empowers the Pyithu Hluttaw (Parliament) to draw up a Constitution."

Presidium member of the National Council of the Union of Burma NCUB, U Tin
Maung Win, says the letter is an encouraging sign for the peaceful
settlement of Burma's political crisis.

"We understand that this is the first time any cease-fire group has called
for a dialogue with pro-democracy and ethnic organisations.  The military
should now take this opportunity to gather the country's leaders together
in a tripartite dialogue and solve Burma's problems peacefully. We know
that on September 1 representatives of the military regime met with leaders
of the three groups in the Shan State capital, Taunggyi, however details of
the meeting are not known," U Tin Maung Win said.

The letter from the three groups also states that the National Convention,
set up in 1993 by the military to draft a Constitution, is no longer
relevant to the current political climate in Burma. The groups go on to
state that they believe now is an opportune time to build a new Union of
Burma where all nationalities enjoy equal rights and equal representation.

The NCUB is an umbrella organisation representing some 19 ethnic and
pro-democracy groups.

National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)

For more information please call 01 828 3741, 01 253 9082. 

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

THE NATION: STUDENTS END PROTEST, WARN OF MORE UNREST IN BURMA 
4 September, 1998 

Agence France-Presse

RANGOON -- Thousands of students who staged the largest protest against the
Burmese junta in nearly two years, dispersed peacefully early yesterday
amid warnings of further unrest.

Foreign diplomats said Wednesday's demonstrations at two Rangoon university
campuses ended without incident but that scores of riot police remained on
stand-by.

"It's obviously building up again," said one western envoy. "There is
tension there and it will only take a small spark to set it all off again."

Up to 4,000 students joined the protest, which came amid escalating
political tensions after the opposition National League for Democracy said
it would convene a parliament which was elected in 1990 but has never been
allowed to sit.

"End the military government," chanted up to 800 students at the Yangon
Institute of Technology (YIT), as riot police cordoned off a one-mile
perimeter around the campus, witnesses said.

Another 3,000 students rallied at the Hlaing campus in the city, where many
of the institution's students live, diplomats and witnesses added. Riot
police were sent to Hlaing and more were deployed around the main YIT
campus, they said.

Riot troops were also seen entering the YIT but there were no reports of
clashes.

After being counselled by academics, all but a few of the students agreed
to board buses to take them to their homes at Hlaing and elsewhere.

The Hlaing protest died down in the early hours of yesterday and all was
later reported quiet, witnesses said.

"There's nothing happening at the moment," said another western diplomat.
"But it's got to flare up again. It's just a matter of when and to what
degree."

The Hlaing campus, which was also sealed off by security forces, hosts a
college for students preparing to enter YIT. 

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

THE NATION: RIOT POLICE SEAL OFF RANGOON CAMPUS 
5 September, 1998 

Reuters

RANGOON - Truckloads of riot police blocked off a Rangoon college yesterday
after hundreds of students protested overnight against plans to relocate
their campus, witnesses said.

Between 500 and 900 students took part in the protest at the Hlaing campus
of the Yangon Institute of Technology (YIT), diplomats contacted in Rangoon
from Bangkok said.

They said the demonstration appeared to have subsided by yesterday morning.

A diplomat said his embassy was trying to confirm a report that at least
100 students had been detained since protests began at YIT on Wednesday. A
spokesman for the military government could not immediately be reached for
comment. Witnesses said some 200 helmeted riot police were stationed around
the college yesterday morning.

Traffic had not been allowed on a road through the campus and diplomats
said students were apparently being stopped from going out.

"They've blocked off the campus and sent along large numbers of riot
police," one diplomat said.

The opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) called on the government
to resolve the protests peacefully.

"The NLD ... earnestly urges the authorities to make efforts to resolve
these demonstrations peacefully by understanding grievances and desires of
the students without arresting or using violence against them," it said.

Protests this week at YIT have been the biggest since late 1996 and come at
a time of increased tension between the government and the NLD, which has
vowed to call a parliament this month. 
[ ... ]

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

SPDC: INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0594(I) - INTERVIEW WITH LT.-COL. HLA MIN 
6 September, 1998 from <OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx> 

MYANMAR IMFORMATION COMMITTEE, YANGON
Information Sheet No.A-0594(I)

Special Feature

This Office is presenting an Interview Conducted by Peter Mares of Radio
Australia (Asia-Pacific) with Lt-Col Hla Min of Office of Strategic Studies

Ruling authorities spokesman on Suu Kyi, rejects international call for UN
role

Text of report by Radio Australia on 27th August

[Presenter Peter Mares] Burma's military regime rejects claims of human
rights abuse and remains defiant in the face of growing international
pressure-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright telephoned the foreign
ministers of Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand last weekend to
discuss developments in Burma and earlier this month Australian Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer suggested that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
should travel personally to Rangoon to mediate between Burma's military
rulers and the opposition NLD the National League for Democracy. But the
Burmese regime today rejected that suggestion outright.

In a rare interview, a military official told "Asia-Pacific" [this feature]
that Burma, or Myanmar as it is officially known can solve its own
problems. Lt-Col Hla Min also defended the government's refusal to allow
Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi to travel outside the capital, saying
the restriction is for her own safety.

[Hla Min] Due to the threats of violence, travel by prominent persons to
some part of the country is inadvisable at this time.  And the KNU, the
Karen National Union, an armed insurgent separatist force, has threatened
in recent weeks to use guerrilla violence to achieve its aim. And a
government analysis [ as heard ] believed that those threats may include
attacks on Ms Suu Kyi, aimed at creating political instability in Myanmar.

[Mares] But she just wants to leave the capital to meet with her
supporters, outside Rangoon.

(A)     Yes, So you see the government of Myanmar has the responsibility of
protecting all of its citizens from acts of political violence from
terrorist organizations and the government will take all necessary action
to protect Ms Suu Kyi from these threats, while also  safeguarding her
human rights, including the right to freedom of movement, as much as possible.

[Q]     But her right of freedom of movement is restricted, because she
can't leave the capital.

[A]     Well, it is as I have earlier mentioned. It is due to these
threats. This is not a permanent sort of thing. If the situation improves,
then of course she will be, it will be much more easy for her to move around.

[Q]     Why does the government refuse to meet with and negotiate with an
NLD delegation which includes Aung San Suu Kyi?

[A]     The government  is always willing to have talks and discussions
with not only the NLD party, but the other existing nine political parties
as well. Of course the government would like to talk to the most
responsible person of each party, which are the officially appointed
chairmen or presidents. In the case of NLD the government has always
expressed its willingness to meet with the chairman of NLD, U Aung Shwe,
and the officially recognized Central Executive Committee members, which is
the top NLD officials. The government find it extremely difficult to
officially recognize party officials, those who were officially expelled
from respective parties by their own party leaders.

[Q]     But Aung San Suu Kyi  has been reinstated by the National League
for Democracy . She was expelled only under duress from the government.

[A]     No, no, no. Because , you see, there are many other parties also
that had a similar experience, some of them, of course because of their
shady backgrounds and they were sort of expelled from their parties. But
what if all the parties started to reinstate all these people who have been
expelled?

[Q]     But surely that's a matter for the party to decide, who is
reinstated and who isn't?

[A]     But you see, they have reinstated, yes. We did not say that they
cannot reinstate. But that is not officially, that is for the internal
political activities [On] that we have nothing to say.  But when it comes
to dealing with the government officially the government can only deal with
the officially recognized senior party members.

[Q]     Backed by some other nations, Australia has called for United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to mediate between the government and
the opposition, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Would your government accept such
a mediating role by the UN Secretary-General?

[A]     The government of Myanmar faithfully abides by the UN charter on
non- interference in other countries' internal affairs and do expect all
other UN member countries to act the same and would rather resolve such
issues without external intervention.  Myanmar also believes it is in the
process of building conciliation and understanding with NLD and hopes the
NLD also reciprocate in the same manner, instead of inviting outsiders to
resolve a family issue.

[Q]     So you wouldn't accept a visit, a mediating role for the UN
secretary- general?

[A]     I think at this stage it is not necessary.

[Q]     But your partners in ASEAN, regional countries in ASEAN, the United
States, Australia, all around the world [ countries ] are concerned about
the political situation in Myanmar, in Burma, and the failure to move forward.

[A]     Well, yes, we appreciate very much for their concern, but actually,
you see, we have our own ways and means to solve our internal issues. And
on that, we are following these ways and means, we are opening the doors
for discussions and we are quite confident that we will reach
understanding. So we would like to solve our internal issues on our own.

[Q]     But as long as you refuse to speak to the internationally and
nationally recognized opposition figurehead, Aung San Suu Kyi , you are not
really opening the door to dialogue, are you?

[A]     We have not ruled anything out. As I have earlier mentioned, the
confidence-building measures have just started. That is one of the main
reasons why would like to have it continued.

[Q]     So you are saying the government may consider also including Aung
San Suu Kyi in a dialogue?

[A]     We have not ruled anything out, so everything is possible. That is
why we want to continue with this confidence building process.

[Mares] Burmese military spokesman  Lt-Col Hla Min , who is Deputy Director
of International Affairs in the Office of Strategic Studies in Burma's
Defence Ministry.

Source; Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 1005 GMT 27 Aug 98

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

REUTERS: WORLD BANK CUTS OFF MYANMAR 
4 September, 1998 

WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The World Bank on Friday cut financial ties
to Myanmar, saying it would not consider giving the government any more
money because it had failed to make repayments on past loans.

In a rare and severe step, the Washington-based lending agency said it
placed loans and credits to the Myanmar government in ``nonaccrual''
status, meaning the country will not be able to borrow money from the World
Bank until it clears its arrears, estimated at $14 million.

The decision will make it more difficult and expensive for Myanmar --
formerly known as Burma -- to borrow money from other lenders, because it
sends a signal to private banks and financial markets that the government
was in default to one of the world's lenders of last resort.

Myanmar is ruled by a military junta that has refused to let a democratic
legislature elected in 1990 take power.

In May 1997 the United States imposed unilateral sanctions on Myanmar,
barring any new investment in the country but allowing existing projects to
go ahead.

Myanmar has borrowed more than $700 million from the World Bank since 1956.
But no loans have been made since July 1987.

``The bank does not have an active lending programme and does not have
plans for one,'' a World Bank official said.

International pressure is growing against Myanmar's military government
over the issue of human rights, particularly its treatment of Aung San Suu
Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar independence hero Aung San.

Other countries with protracted arrears to the World Bank include Iraq,
Liberia and Syria.

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

XINHUA (CHINA): JAPAN PROVIDES MORE AID TO MYANMAR 
4 September, 1998 

YANGON (Sept. 4) XINHUA - Japan has extended to Myanmar a grant-in-aid of 2
billion yen (15 million U.S. dollars) for debt relief, according to a press
release of the Japanese Embassy here Friday.

Notes to this effect were exchanged on the same day here between the two
sides.

The grant-in-aid was extended to relieve the burden of debt the Myanmar
government owes to the Japanese government, the press release said.

Japan, one of the major donors of Myanmar, has extended 20 grants-in-aid
for debt relief to the country.

According to official statistics, Japan's investment in Myanmar reached 206
million dollars in 17 permitted projects at the end of April this year,
ranking ninth among 23 countries or regions which have a total of 7 billion
dollars of investment in the country.

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

NRC HANDELSBLAD (NETHERLANDS): C&A RELINQUISHES TRADE WITH BURMA 
4 September, 1998 from <bcn@xxxxxxxxx>

[Rough translation of article from Dutch daily business newspaper by Burma
Centre Netherlands]

Human Rights Violation

Rotterdam - The largest clothing stores chain in Europe is no longer doing
business with producers or suppliers in Burma. The company decided this as
a result of the "toilsome political situation." Both direct and indirect
trade is suspended.

The news comes in the same month that the leader of the opposition National
League for Democracy, Nobel peace prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, is
commemorating in Rangoon the tenth anniversary of uprisings in which
thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators were killed by the Burmese army.
Recently [the Dutch] company IHC Caland was criticized because of its
planned building of an oil-rig [actually an oil storage device, BCN] on the
south coast of military-ruled Burma.

In a written statement that was given to this newspaper, C&A acknowledges
the company's decision. The letter refers to a "minute internal inquest" in
the company controlled by the family Brenninkmeijer. This inquest pointed
out that "during the last 18 months there has been not a single piece of
clothing in the collection from Burma." Asked why the company had not
announced earlier that it had broken ties with Burma, spokesperson Frank
van 't Hek says: "This is because of the closed way in which the company is
run. When beer brewing company Heineken decided several years ago not to
build a brewery in Burma and to pull out of the Burmese market it was
announced from their own initiative. Being a public company listed on the
stock exchange, Heineken has to be clear. C&A is privately owned, we hardly
ever give press conferences. We will only announce a decision when somebody
asks for it."

C&A has it own organization, SOCAM, that checks whether suppliers and
producers keep themselves to C&A's code of conduct. This code contains a
large number of ethical aspects, varying from banning child labour to
requiring certain standards in the work climate, health and safety.

The controllers from SOCAM make one thousand visits per year to producers
and suppliers in mostly third-world countries like Burma without prior
announcement. Last year this resulted in the cancellation of eighty
contracts. "But in the case of Burma, SOCAM was not even involved," says
Van 't Hek. "The international board of management stated by itself to the
sourcing departments of all six hundred stores and all other parts of the
company that we want nothing to do with Burma again. That is a real 'policy
decision'. The repression there and the violations of human rights in Burma
have taken such forms that no decent company should have any business with
it. As long as the situation in that country does not change drastically,
C&A will stay away."

The Burma Centre Netherlands, which, on the instigation of Aung San Suu
Kyi, is lobbying for economic measures by the European Union - the United
States has already banned all new investments in Burma - welcomes the
decision. "It is to be hoped that this example will be followed by others,"
says spokesperson Gijs Hillenius. "The trend is clearly there; companies
realize that they have a responsibility that goes beyond the making of
profit."

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION REPORT AVAILABLE 
31 August, 1998 from David Arnott < darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx> 

REPORT OF THE ILO COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO FORCED LABOUR IN MYANMAR (BURMA)

This very readable, 392-page report, in the extent of its documentation and
the authority and depth of its legal analysis, is the most important report
on a specific human rights abuse in Burma that has ever been issued.

It is now on the ILO website at:
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/20gb/docs/gb273/myanmar.htm

Webmasters, make links.

Paper copies of the report can be obtained from ILO Distribution -- contact
Mr Dunand, Email prodoc@ilo,org.  I will also see if it is available on
floppy disk. The report, in 19 parts, was posted on burmanet-l on 31
August, 1998. Appendices are on their way.  If there is anyone who cannot
get the text by any of these means, let me know.

David Arnott
Burma Peace Foundation, Geneva
**************************************
CONTENTS OF THE REPORT:
Forced labour in Myanmar (Burma)

Report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed under article 26 of the
Constitution of the International Labour Organization to examine the
observance by Myanmar of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

Geneva, 2 July 1998

Contents
Part I. Establishment of the Commission
1. Filing of the complaint and appointment of the Commission
     (1) Filing of the complaint
     (2) Provisions of the Constitution of the International Labour
Organization relating to complaints concerning non-observance of ratified
Conventions
     (3) Summary of the measures taken by the Governing Body of the
International Labour Office following the filing of the complaint and
establishment of the Commission

Part II. Procedure followed by the Commission
2. First Session of the Commission
     (1) Solemn declaration made by the members of the Commission
     (2) Adoption of the procedure to be followed by the Commission
     (3) Communication of additional information
     (4) Measures adopted with a view to the Second Session and the
subsequent work of the Commission
3. Communications received by the Commission following its First Session
     (1) Communications received from the parties
          (a) Communications from the complainants
          (b) Communications from the Government of Myanmar
     (2) Communications received from other sources
          (a) Communications from member States under article 27 of the ILO
Constitution
          (b) Communications from intergovernmental organizations
          (c) Communications from non-governmental organizations
          (d) Communications from companies mentioned in the complaint
4. Second Session of the Commission
     (1) Hearing of witnesses
     (2) Communications received by the Commission following its Second
Session
          (a) Communication from the Government of Myanmar
          (b) Communications from non-governmental organizations
          (c) Communications from a company named in the complaint
5. Visit by the Commission to the region
     (1) Procedure followed by the Commission
     (2) Persons and witnesses interviewed
          (a) India
          (b) Bangladesh
          (c) Thailand
6. Third Session of the Commission

Part III. Allegations by the parties and historical background of the case
7. Summary of the complaint and the Government's observations
     (1) Factual allegations submitted by the complainants
     (2) Legal conclusions submitted by the complainants
     (3) The Government's observations
          (a) Public purposes or public sector
               (i) Portering
               (ii) Construction of development and infrastructure projects
by the Government
               (iii) Hotel industries in Myanmar
          (b) Private benefit or private sector
               (i) Construction of the Yadana natural gas pipeline
          (c) The law
          (d) Conclusion
8. Historical background
     A. Earlier reports and statements by the Government of Burma/Myanmar
on the application of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), comments
and representation by industrial organizations, and observations, findings
and requests by ILO supervisory bodies
          (1) Reports under article 22 of the ILO Constitution and
statements to the International Labour Conference (ILC) presented by the
Government, 1960 to 1992, and corresponding comments
          (2) 1993 representation under article 24 of the ILO Constitution
               (a) Allegations made by the complainant organization
               (b) The Government's observations as to the facts
               (c) The Government's observations concerning the Convention
               (d) The Committee's conclusions and recommendations,
approved by the Governing Body of the ILO
          (3) Subsequent developments up to the lodging of the complaint
under article of the ILO Constitution (June 1996)
     B. Examination by United Nations bodies of the human rights situation
in Myanmar (particularly with respect to forced labour)
          (1) General Assembly
          (2) Commission on Human Rights and Special Rapporteurs on the
situation of human rights in Myanmar
          (3) Secretary-General
          (4) Other United Nations bodies

Part IV. Examination of the case by the Commission
9. Context of general international law and requirements of the Forced
Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
     A. General international law, including slavery, forced labour and
other slavery-like practices
     B. Requirements of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
          (1) Measures called for under Articles 1(1) and 25 of the Convention
          (2) Definition of forced or compulsory labour and scope of
exceptions
               (a) Compulsory military service
               (b) Normal civic obligations
               (c) Prison labour
               (d) Emergencies
               (e) Minor communal service
          (3) Present status of Article 1, paragraph 2, and Articles 4 et
seq. of the Convention
10. Brief description of Myanmar
     (1) General presentation
     (2) Historical background
     (3) Administrative structure
     (4) Opposition forces
11. Legislation of Myanmar relevant to the case
     (1) Requisition of labour under the Village Act and Towns Act and
subsequent orders and directives
     (2) Restrictions on the freedom of movement and citizenship
     (3) Compulsory military service and forced conscription
     (4) Sanctions for illegally imposing forced or compulsory labour
12. Findings of the Commission concerning the facts
     A. Admissibility and probative value of testimonial evidence and
documentary material
     B. General pattern of conduct by Myanmar authorities
     C. Thematic analysis of the forms of labour and services requisitioned
by certain authorities
          (1) Portering
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (2) Military camp work
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (3) Other work in support of the military
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (4) Forced recruitment
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (5) Work on agriculture, logging, and other production projects
               (a) Information provided to the Commission
               (b) Oral testimony
          (6) Construction and maintenance of roads, railways and bridges
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (7) Other infrastructure work
               (a) Documentary material
               (b) Oral testimony
          (8) General work
               (a) Nature and condition of work
               (b) Specific examples from documentary material and oral
testimony
13. Findings as to compliance with the Convention
     A. National laws and statutory or administrative standard-setting
instruments, considered in the light of the Convention 
          (1) Provisions of the Village Act and the Towns Act and
subsequent orders and directives dealing with the requisition of labour
               (a) Applicability of the definition of forced labour
               (b) Non-applicability of exceptions defined in Article 2(2)
of the Convention
               (c) Expiration of the transitional period
               (d) Role of secret directives and payment of wages
          (2) Legislation on citizenship and other instruments bearing on
the freedom of movement
          (3) Legislation on compulsory military service
          (4) Sanctions for illegally imposing forced or compulsory labour
     B. National practice considered in the light of the Convention
          (1) Requisition of labour
          (2) Requisition of labour for various purposes, considered in the
light of the exceptions in Article 2(2)(a), (b), (d) and (e) of the Convention
               (a) Portering
               (b) Military camp work and other work in support of the
military
               (c) Forced conscription
               (d) Work on agriculture, logging and other production projects
               (e) Construction and maintenance of roads, railways and bridges
               (f) Other infrastructure work
               (g) General work
          (3) Requisition of labour, considered in the light of the
prohibitions in Article 4 et seq. of the Convention
               (a) Residual relevance of Article 4 et seq. of the Convention
               (b) Violation of specific prohibitions
                    (i) Imposition of forced or compulsory labour for
private benefit
                    (ii) Exaction of forced or compulsory labour from
women, children, elderly people and disabled persons
                    (iii) Denial of remuneration and compensation
                    (iv) Compulsory cultivation
          (4) Punishment of the illegal exaction of forced or compulsory
labour

Part V. Conclusions and recommendations
14. Conclusions and recommendations
     (1) Preliminary questions
     (2) Terms of reference of the Commission
     (3) Conclusions on the substance of the case
     (4) Recommendations
     (5) Concluding observations

Appendices 
I.Supplementary evidence submitted by the complainants in October 1996 
II. Observation of the Myanmar Government on the initial complaint and
supplementary evidence made by 25 Worker delegates to the 83rd Session of
the International Labour Conference under article 26 of the ILO Constitution 
III. Rules for the hearing of witnesses 
IV. List of documents received by the Commission following its First Session 
V. List of documents received by the Commission following its Second Session 
VI. List of documents received in the course of the hearings 
VII. Summaries of testimony 
VIII. List of documents received in the course of the visit to the region 
IX. Maps of Myanmar 
X. Names, foreign terms and acronyms 
XI. Samples of orders received by the Commission 
XII. Order by the Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC) on the subject of "Prohibiting unpaid labour contributions in
national development projects" dated 2 June 1995 
XIII. The Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) 

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: 8888 VIDEO, T-SHIRT; ALTSEAN REPORT CARD ON BURMA 
4 September, 1998 from <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx> 

NOW AVAILABLE:
VIDEO: NLD Leaders Address on the Tenth Anniversary of 8888
Bilingual - 9 minutes English/15 minutes Burmese message from U Aung Shwe,
U Tin Oo & Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on one tape.

NTSC\PAL. Jointly produced by Altsean-Burma and Images Asia.

US$15 each includes delivery. Delivery one week.

Discount available for bulk orders (10 or more) and for Asean-based
organisations.

BILINGUAL 8888 T-SHIRT as advertised on Myanmar TV and the New Light of
Myanmar
(Reprinted due to popular demand)
Black, Extra Large, Large or Medium with yellow and red lettering. 
Features fighting peacock logo and slogan: "8888 - Don't Forget - Don't
Give Up" in English AND Burmese.

Price US$ 15 each includes postage or bulk order of US$400 for 40 T-shirts
(delivery two weeks)
REPORT CARD: BURMA'S MILITARY REGIME ON THE EDGE
includes chronology March 1 - June 30

(this is a blatant plug)

Price US$ 5 each includes postage

A L T S E A N - B U R M A
Alternative Asean Network on Burma
Tel/Fax: 66 2 693 4515 * <altsean@xxxxxxxxxx>

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