ITUC-Asia Pacific condemns repression of labour in Burma

Bangalore, Sep 6 (UNI) The repression of labour and trade union rights in Burma came to the fore at the two-day Founding Conference of the International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP) which called for put to an end to it, Mr Guy Ryder, General Secretary ITUC said today.

Speaking to newsmen here, Mr Ryder said that the delegates at the Conference expressed serious concern at the Burmese military regime's failure to engage in serious dialogue with the National League for Democracy and the ethinic nationalities organisations for the restoration of democracy and peace.

The Conference also noted that conditions of the working class in Burma remain critical in spite of the campaigns by the international community including by the trade union movement against widespread and systematic violations of human rights over many years.

The delegates also urged the international community to step up political, diplomatic and economic pressure including the application of effective economic sanctions on the regimes in order to force the Mymnar to respect for fundamental rights and democratic rule. It also urged International Community to take up the violation of fundamental rights in Mymnar and to develop a coordinated international response to the deteriorating situation as a matter of urgency.

The Conference urged the international community to promote peace based on the United Nations decisions and the UN Security Council Resolutions 242-338 calling for the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Occupied Palestinian Terrorities. The delegates also affirmed for the right of the Palenstanial people to establish their own country on the land which was occupied on June 1967.

UNI