Forced Labour continues in Burma, says ILO representative
2 August 2004 (DVB) - The practice of forced labour is continuing in Burma despite some sporadic reports, notably, the one from Kawhmu Township in Rangoon in which some villagers sue their local authorities for forcing them to take part in the ‘volunteering’ activities.
Richard Horsey, Rangoon-based representative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) who had just returned from a field visit to Kawhmu told DVB that he has been closely watching the lawsuit at Kawhmu but he refused to give further comments on the case.
He said there are two types of actions being taken by the people; some people report their experiences to the ILO and some go straight to the court and sue the authorities, and that the ILO is trying to give protection to the accusers as much as it could but he admitted that his organisation is unable to protect them all.
He added that the situations in remote part of Burma are worse than those around the capital and it is more difficult for people from those regions to report the abuses, but he is convinced that there are more abuses in these regions.