Burma "slave" probe opens

The ILO hopes to assess the extent to which forced labour has been stopped

By the BBC's Larry Jagan from Bangkok

A high level delegation from the International Labour Organisation is due to begin a three-week investigative mission to Burma.

The ILO said the mission has been guaranteed freedom of access and that any witnesses that gave evidence would be protected.

Analysts said the mission was extremely significant, representing the first chance the international community has had to examine the situation of forced labour in Burma first-hand.

Last November, the ILO censured Burma for its continued use of forced labour and has called on his members to consider implementing an international economic boycott.

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The ILO mission is being led by four eminent international jurists who are used to dealing with authoritarian regimes.

Juan Somavia, head of ILO plans rigorous investigation

The mission's chiefs are not going to be hoodwinked, ILO head Juan Somavia said.

"They know their business, they know what to look at and they know what to ask," he said.

The team has been guaranteed access to any part of the country they want to visit, although Rangoon still has not been told most of the areas or projects the mission wants to visit, ILO sources told the BBC.

The Burmese military government was stung into action last November when the ILO condemned Burma for its use of what the international community defines as slavery.

Economic boycott

The organisation called on members to implement what would in effect by an international economic boycott of Burma.

With Burma's economy plunging deeper into crisis, the government acted to counter the threat and has, for the first time, officially outlawed forced labour and circulated the directive throughout the country.

The ILO mission said it hoped to assess to what extent forced labour has been stopped, but the organisation said it is well aware that what is really needed is a permanent presence in Rangoon to continually monitor the situation.

Juan Somavia described the mission as an important start in that process.

"The ILO constituency is pretty aware and will not be satisfied with something that doesn't appear to be real progress," he said.

"It is progress for a mission to be there, but progress has to continue."

This visit has been interpreted as another sign that Burma's ruling generals want to lessen the country's international isolation.

But for the army, stamping out the use of forced labour is likely to be more divisive than holding talks with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to Burmese military sources, the army could not function properly without press-ganging villagers into service as guides and porters.