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Issue No. 213 | 19 March 2004 |
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Interview: Baby Bust Safety: Dust To Dust Bad Boss: Shaming in Print National Focus: Work's Cripplin' Us International: Bulk Bullies History: The Battle for Kelly's Bush Economics: Aid, Trade And Oil Review: The Art Of Work Poetry: Sew His Lips Together
Smith�s Charity Begins At Work "Anarchy" Warning from Builders Sugar: Sweet Taste of Survival State Water, Forests Face Sell-Off Pirates and Ports for Classroom
The Soapbox Sport Politics Postcard
Militancy Tom On Drink Howard Screws Vets
Labor Council of NSW |
News Burmese Generals at it Again
One defendant received the death sentence after prosecutors alleged he had been found in possession of the ILO's report into forced labour in Burma and "other sheets of paper". All nine had been charged with high treason. The world's largest trade union confederation, the ICFTU, has already written to Burma's military dictatorship calling the prosecutions fundamental violations of human rights. It accused the dictatorship, which had pledged to work with ILO to stamp out forced labour, of "blatant hypocrisy". Burma has been the target of international sanctions since its military vetoed the results of a popular election, won by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, 12 years ago. It has kept Suu Kyi in prison or under house arrest for most of that time. The ACTU's development arm, APHEDA, has helped co-ordinate Australian involvement in an international campaign to pressure businesses out of involvement with the rogue state. Most foreign investors had brought into joint ventures with the military dictatorship. The campaign has scored at least two major successes with the enforced withdrawal of Triumph Bras and British American Tobacco. Democracy activists have accused Burma of systematic abuse of international labour laws, including the use of forced labour to keep down costs. The ILO, an arm of the United Nations, is investigating the latest death sentences. "Burmese authorities must drop these charges and ensure the defendants are released from prison," the ICFTU said from its Brussels headquarters this week. "Anything short of that would show a flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights."
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