“The brutality is continuing with the number of political prisoners almost doubling to more than 2,130 in the past year, despite Burma’s promises to the UN ...”

http://www.actu.asn.au/International/NewsandEvents/RuddGovernmentshouldpressUNtomakeBurmasjuntaaccountable.aspx

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ACTU Release

Friday 26 September 2008

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Rudd Government should press UN to make Burma’s junta accountable


It has been a year since the military junta in Burma sparked global outrage, killing at least 31 people and arresting 3000 others including monks, nuns, 18 MPs, 274 members of the National League for Democracy and Aung San Suu Kyi’s party.



Marking the anniversary, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:



“The brutality is continuing with the number of political prisoners almost doubling to more than 2,130 in the past year, despite Burma’s promises to the UN and the international community to end the repression.”



Prominent labour activist U Thet Way, was recently sentenced to two years hard labour for supplying the International Labour Organisation with information on forced labour including the junta’s practice of recruiting children into the army.



“Condemning U Thet Way simply because he spoke up for workers’ rights is an intolerable action,” said Ms Burrow, who is also the global president of the International Trade Union Confederation.

Following the 2007 protests, at least 18 people have died in custody due to poor conditions and harsh interrogations. At least 80 prisoners are unaccounted for.



“Once again the junta in Burma is showing complete disregard for fundamental human rights,” said Ms Burrow.



Ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly, the junta announced the release of 9002 prisoners, including 7 political prisoners after years of campaigning by the international trade union movement, governments, human rights organisations and the UN.



“The Burmese junta must be forced to do more than just release prisoners because the UN is meeting. It must be brought to account.



“The economic and political changes that the demonstrators died in the streets for last year have not been addressed by the junta and conditions have actually worsened following Cyclone Nargis. The people of Burma deserve more than empty promises,” said Ms Burrow.


Media contact: Alison Tate, 0427 510 346