ILO met relatives of murdered forced labor complainants

ILO met relatives of murdered forced labor complainants, claims Shan human rights activist

In response to recent exchange of communications between the high level team from the International Labor Organization that was in Burma lately and Burma's powerful intelligence chief concerning the July killings of 7 villagers who had complained to the authorities on the still widespread forced labor despite official banning of the practice, a spokesperson for the Shan Human Rights Foundation maintained that the fact-finders had met the victims' relatives and interviewed them themselves. 

"We were not even allowed to say anything that we thought might be useful for their investigations during their interviews," said the member of the SHRF that has for 4 years been producing monthly reports on human rights situation in the Shan State. "The guys bluntly told us they knew how to do their job." 

Sir Ninian Stephen, Chairman of the ILO High-level Team that was in Burma from 17 September-6 October, had communicated to senior General Than Shwe on 13 October on the killings of 7 villagers in Mongnai, southern Shan State, on 14 July, three days after they had lodged complaints to the Eastern Region Command about the continued use of forced labor in the area. The reply by Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, while assuring the ILO that he would make "a thorough investigation of the matter" added that the SHRF "is nothing more than a front for anti-government insurgents that are operating from the US," led by Khun Kya Oo, "who is now residing in the US." Khun Kya Oo died in Thailand on 29 November 1997. 

The SHRF member, who had requested anonymity citing security reasons, laughingly said, "I have only this to say concerning his counter-allegations: Dear General Khin Nyunt, please check your facts." 

"Rangoon authorities," he continued, "should now have known better that the ILO team would not have written that letter unless they had made their own inquiries." 

Sir Stephen reported on 7 November that forced labor still prevailed in Burma, especially in the non-Burman areas, despite legislation. 

Update: 30 November 

Khin Maung Win, Deputy Foreign Minister, said on 20 November, "through investingations" revealed that the allegations were "baseless and false."