The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions...

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) strongly condemned the Burmese authorities for the 28 November 2003 sentencing to death of 9 Burmese workers on charges of high treason. Charges were reportedly brought against some the convicts on the grounds of making contact with the United Nations' International Labour Organisation (ILO). One defendant received the death sentence having been found in possession of the report of the ILO Commission of Inquiry on Forced Labour in Burma, and 'other sheets of paper', including the business card of an ILO official serving in Rangoon. In a letter to the Burmese authorities, the Brussels-based ICFTU underlined that the prosecution of individuals for making contact with the ILO was a violation of fundamental human rights. The ICFTU highlighted the hypocrisy of the Burmese authorities' pledges to work with the ILO to stamp out forced labour whilst prosecuting those individuals on grounds of treason for making contact with the UN agency. "The Burmese authorities must drop the charges of high treason against the defendants and ensure that they are released from prison. Anything short of this would show a flagrant disregard for fundamental human rights. The ICFTU will press the international community to use all tools available to ensure that the Burmese government ends the ongoing abuse of Burmese workers' rights" said the organisation from its headquarters in Brussels.