Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) Federation of Trade Unions-Kawthoolei (FTUK)

FTUB and FTUK Joint Press Release

Date: 28.Feb.2010

The Federation of Trade Unions-Burma (FTUB) and Federation of Trade Unions-Kawthoolei

(FTUK) strongly condemn the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the Burmese army and
the local authorities for the continuous use of forced labor throughout the country, in violation of the
ILO Convention 29 and of the SPDC/ILO agreement. FTUB and FTUK highlight fresh evidence for
SPDC's blatant disregard to said Convention, as in the case of over 400 persons from the Tavoy area to
Taungoo area obliged to forced labour for the military and in the case of the killing of trade unionists
active against forced labour.
FTUB and FTUK denounces the latest case, before 17th January 2010, proved by the official
SPDC orders, obliging people to implement forced labor in the Kyauk Kyi township.
The strategy undertaken by Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 367 and LIB (346) under Maj Gen Kaung
Myint within Pegu division (east) included the following methods;
• execution of KAWU's member Saw Aye Mu. [ KyaukKyi township, Nyaunglaybin district]
• execution of KEWU's member Saw Mya Kaw Htoo. [ KyaukKyi township, Nyaunglaybin
district]
• the destructive burning of 85 homes in 3 villages. [ Kyauk Kyi township, Nyaunglaybin
district]
• the closure of 13 schools facilitating the education of 531 children [ Kyauk Kyi township,
Nyaunglaybin district]
• the burning of a 20 bed hospital built by the Health department of the Karen National Union,
including all essential supplies and equipment[ Kyauk Kyi township, Nyaunglaybin district]
• over 470 persons from 12 villages forced to labor [ Htantabin township, Taungoo District]
The fate of the villagers is uncertain as they have fled into the nearby jungle in fear of further
SPDC reprisals.
Vast amounts of similar cases are in the ILO offices are more than enough for the ILO to take
further assertive action. More than enough time, money and goodwill had been given to the SPDC to
eradicate forced labor. The ILO project in the Nargis area is a practical goodwill exercise beneficial
for the Mawlamyaing population, but the ILO priority is the implementation of the Commission of
Enquiry recommendations. We urge UNDP, French red Cross, FAO, WFP to cooperate with the ILO's
Employment Intensive Infrastructure Program EIIP, to accept to be part of the ILO reporting system
on Forced Labor and Child soldier.
FTUB and FTUK call upon the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC and it's members,
the Global Unions Federation GUFs, the Government members and the Employer members of the ILO
Governing Body and the international institutions to fully implement the ILO 2001/6 Resolution and
to defer the junta, without further delay, to the International Court of Justice, requesting an urgent
Advisory Opinion on the violation of such fundamental human right convention.
Contact persons
U Maung Maung –Ph . 66 860905672
Saw Dot Lay Mu –Ph . 66 878481491