ITUC-Asia Pacific condemns repression of labour in Myanmar

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

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Ryder said 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 Ethnic Nationalities Organisations for the restoration of democracy and peace.

The meet also noted that the conditions of the working class in Burma remained critical inspite 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 regime in order to force Myanmar to respect fundamental rights and democratic rules. It also urged the international community to take up the violation of fundamental rights in Myanmar and develop a co-ordinated international response to the deteriorating situation.

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 the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own country on the land occupied in June 1967.

UNI