Burma rejects forced labour charges

Premier Oil admits it knows little about the situation on the ground

By BBC Burma analyst Larry Jagan

The Burmese Government has rejected allegations made by European MPs last week that the army was still using forced labour.

The Government spokesman told the BBC that the MPs had made up their minds without examining the real situation.

Evidence was submitted to hearing at the European Parliament that British and French oil companies in Burma were dependent on forced labour to lay their pipeline to Thailand and that the Burmese army colluded in this practise.

Porters are reportedly abused by the army

The Burmese Government remains convinced that most of its critics are politically motivated.

In a statement to the BBC the military spokesman Colonel Hla Min said the European MPs had ignored the facts and were not prepared to acknowledge the real developments that had taken place in the country.

ILO investigation

On the issue of forced labour, Burma's military leaders have good reason to feel aggrieved - especially at the timing of the MP's renewed allegations. After all, the Burmese government has just allowed in a major investigative mission from the International Labour Organisation to assess Burma's efforts to stamp out the use of forced labour.

Many of the documented incidents of forced labour tabled at the European Parliament occurred more than a year ago. The government says it outlawed forced labour officially late last year.

The ILO mission has now completed its research and is currently preparing its report for the organisation¿s meeting in Geneva next month.

It is going to be more thorough than any other UN investigation so far held into Burma's human rights record.

Courage

While in Burma, the four-member team travelled independently of the army to locations they wanted to visit and used their own interpreters to gather testimonies.

According to ILO sources, the team were impressed with the courage of those who came to talk to them.

The mission then spent a week in northern Thailand talking to refugees - Shan, Karen and Karennis - who had fled Burma to escape being used by the army as porters.

The ILO is remaining tight-lipped about the mission and say it will all be in the report when its published.

Engagement

In the meantime, the Burmese Government continues to insist the international community still has not given it credit for reforms implemented over the past year.

The EU has already signalled its willingness to review its policy of isolating Burma if Rangoon is really committed to introducing political change.

For Burma's part, the military spokesman told the BBC, the government always welcomed constructive, realistic and meaningful engagement.

But the question remains to what extent are Burma's ruling generals actually willing to reciprocate.