Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation

UNPO News 2001:
Mon: ILO Resolution triggers International Action


The Mon State is located in the South West of Burma. The Mon is part of
a wide variety of
peoples living in Burma. Up to this day the Mon continue to suffer from
regular and frequent
conscription of forced labour, various types of illegal and arbritary
taxes, paddy collection
and land seizures, as well as continued interruption and harrasment of
Mon efforts in
language education and cultural and literary production.

In June of 2000 the ILO (International Labour Organization) warned to
stop all practices of
conscription of forced labour in the whole of Burma. Nevertheless the
peoples of regions
under control of the SPDC (State Peace and Development Council), are to
this day suffering
from the malpractices of the government.

>From the 5th of February through the 7th of February the Mon Unity
League (MUL) held an
International Conference on Mon National Affairs. The MUL is a Mon
umbrella organization
which is composed of representatives from major Mon Groups from Burma,
Thailand and
abroad. The league was formed after the seminar on Mon National Affairs
in 1994.

Approximately 60 representatives from the Mon communities of Burma,
Thailand and other
nations, like Australia, Canada and the USA attended the conference.
The main topics discussed were:

- The current political situation for the MUL and the Mon people;
- The review and forming of policy concerning the Mon people;
- Getting to the adoption and implementation of future MUL plans and
activities.

The MUL believes that the current problems confronting the Mon and
other ethnic minorities
as well as the whole of Burma and all her people can be solved
peacefully through dialogue,
negotiation and political means.
The military government however must enter into cease fire with all of
the ethnic minority
opposition groups in Burma and declare an amnesty and free all
political prisoners and
persons detained for opposition activities.

Ironically, economic progress in Burma means a decline in Human Rights.

Weapons are being used to suppress the people and force it to work.
This work creates an
income, which is being used to buy more weapons: weapons used to
suppress the people
and exploit them as slaves, making them work to create an income.

In order to target the Burmese junta, global unions have taken the lead
getting forced labour
in Burma to be brought to a halt. From 28 of February to March 3rd,
over 50 leaders and
representatives of the International Trade Movement Union gathered
leading to the adoption
of several resolutions.

One of the decisions taken at the conference was that even though the
Burmese junta was
prompted to enter discussions with NLD (National league for Democracy)
leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the international community should not weaken its
stance.
The ILO resolution should not only be maintained, but also strengthened
in order for it to be
used as a key instrument of pressure on the regime.

On the first of May an International Day of Union Action for Burma is
to be held.
Associates of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
worldwide will actively
lobby in order to draw more attention to the situation in Burma.
UN-bodies, member states and companies should be aware of the fact that
their relation with
Burma encourages the use of forced labour. As General Secretary of the
ICFTU Mr Bill Jordan
stated 'There can be no doubt whatsoever that anyone doing business
today in Burma,
whether in export, import or investment, in practice offers support to
an illegal, undemocratic
and corrupt regime'.


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