[burmanet2-l] Burmese Junta virtual

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Subject: [burmanet2-l] Burmese Junta virtually banned by ILO

Enfin

> 
> Myanmar blames West for ILO sanctions
> 10:13 a.m. Jun 17, 1999 Eastern
> BANGKOK, June 17 (Reuters) - Myanmar deplored a move on Thursday by the
> International Labour Organisation (ILO) banning it from receiving aid or
> attending meetings until it halted forced labour.
> 
> The ban effectively means Myanmar is out of the U.N. body.
> 
> ``This is as isolated as a country can get in the ILO, which does not have
> any mechanism for formal expulsion,'' spokesman John Doohan Reuters after
> the U.N. agency's annual meeting.
> 
> The body adopted the resolution by an overwhelming majority and denounced
> Myanmar's military government for inflicting what it called ``nothing but a
> contemporary form of slavery.''
> 
> Myanmar condemned the resolution on which the ILO's 174 member states, as
> well as workers and employers' representatives, voted.
> 
> ``It is most regrettable that such an august assembly like the ILO should
> fall victim to the machinations and political tricks of Western nations,
> particularly Britain,'' the foreign ministry said in a statement obtained by
> Reuters.
> 
> ``Myanmar finds it impossible to accept such deplorable and unscrupulous
> action on the part of those nations who want to interfere and meddle in the
> internal affairs of Myanmar.''
> 
> Under the resolution, the Southeast Asian country would cease to benefit
> from ILO technical aid and would not be invited to meetings until it had
> implemented the ILO's recommendations.
> 
> The resolution, adopted despite attempts by Cuba to remove the sanctions,
> said the military government used forced labour to build infrastructure
> projects and as porters for the army.
> 
> It said Myanmar was guilty of ``flagrant and persistent failure'' to comply
> with a 1930 ILO treaty banning forced labour that Yangon has ratified.
> 
> Myanmar's foreign ministry said it had already brought local laws in line
> with the ILO's Forced Labour Convention and Convention on the Freedom of
> Association.
> 
> ``Deliberately turning a blind eye to these positive developments, a number
> of Western nations ... pushed through the resolution accusing Myanmar of
> widespread use of forced labour,'' it added.

> 
> Yangon said it stop participating in activities connected with the two
> disputed ILO conventions. But it would comply with other conventions to
> which it is party.