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Issue No. 126 | 01 March 2002 |
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I Don�t Like Sprouts
Interview: Clean Hands Corporate: Out of Asia Unions: Tears, Real And Crocodile, At The Ansett Wake Economics: Labour�s Capital: Individual Or Collective? History: Mardi Gras: The Biggest Labour Festival? International: Driving A Hard Bargain Review: In Bed With a Sub-Machine Gun Satire: Whitlam Forgives Kerr: "At Least He Didn't Dismiss A Rape Victim" Poetry: Dear Mother
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review
 More on Harry BridgesWell Done, SplitterRepeating History
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News Burma the Next Chernobyl
"The reasons the regime have given for buying the reactor are ridiculous. This military regime cannot even manage to feed or look after the basic health needs of its own people - yet they want to spend millions of dollars on a reactor," Bo Mya said. He predicts environmental disaster for the region if the purchase went ahead.. "Considering their long history of economic incompetence how do they intend to maintain the safe operation of the nuclear reactor and where will they dispose of the deadly nuclear waste?" he asked. Bo Mya also said, given the regime's record on human rights abuses, there were no guarantees the reactor would not be used for military purposes against Burma's neighbours. "There are more questions than answers. Burma should listen to the concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) who recently said Burma failed to meet the minimum safety standards needed to operate a nuclear reactor." Bo Mya urged all countries in the region to oppose in the strongest terms this serious security, environmental and health risk to the peoples of South East Asia. The NCUB is a broad-based alliance of democratic and ethnic forces opposed to the Burmese military. If you want to get involved or make a donation to help the Burmese people contact the Australian trade union movement's humanitarian aid agency, APHEDA, on: (02) 9264 9343. ILO Officials Banned From meeting Revelations of the nuclear plans came as the ruling military blocked an International Labour Organisation (ILO) delegation investigating forced labor from meeting pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Monday move followed criticism of the junta by ILO officials meeting in neighboring Thailand, who said Myanmar was doing too little to curb use of forced labor. The four-member ILO delegation's car was turned away from a checkpoint outside Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon, where the Nobel peace laureate has been under house arrest for more than a year, witnesses said. Burma's ruling generals, eager for international legitimacy which could bring more aid, trade and investment, passed a decree in 2000 abolishing forced labor. But an ILO report last year said the Myanmar army was still forcing villagers to farm, and work on infrastructure projects or as porters, especially in areas near the Thai border where it was fighting with ethnic minority armies.
Many Western countries, including the European Union and the United States, which maintain aid and trade sanctions on Myanmar, say they would soften their stances if the ruling generals improve their human rights record and move towards democracy.
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