Government and KNU in direct contact Progress has been made in the discussions between
officials concerned and KNU delegates

YANGON, 16 March — The Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council held the press conference No 2/2005 yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Information.

Present were U Sein Win of Kyodo news agency, President of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club U Sao Kai Hpa, Secretary U Nyunt Tin and members, editors of local periodicals and guests.

At the question and answer session, U Aung Shwe Oo of NTV said that concerning the ILO, there are conventions and suggestions. The number of conventions observed by some nations is less than ten. As for Myanmar it has accepted and approved a number of conventions. The press meet already explained with firm evidence the cooperation of Myanmar in enacting laws concerning the conventions and formation of committees to materialize them. If we study the explanations, we can see that the ILO’s actions are above its principles and rules. I have known at the press conference that Myanmar has already defended herself with solid clarifications. First, I would like to know whether Myanmar has responded to the ILO with the firm explanations. Second, as there were accusations on Myanmar, using the ILO Convention No 29 as a tool, I would like to know whether Myanmar can resign from such conventions.

Concerning the ILO Convention No 29 on forced labour, Minister for Labour U Thaung said that Myanmar has already distributed the copies of the paper under the title — Cooperation with the ILO — to the ILO, the ILO delegation that visited Myanmar and representatives of the member countries of the ILO Governing Body. In the paper, it is mentioned that Myanmar has already taken action against the matters concerning the 48 accusations of the total of 50 made by the ILO resident representative. The country is still looking into the matter concerning the remaining two accusations.

In connection with the second question, the minister said that a member nation of the ILO Convention No 29 can resign from it after signing the convention for 15 years. But Myanmar is still cooperating with the ILO to practically prove her tradition of cooperating with the body since the past. When all the ILO accusations are studied, they cannot be consummated forced labour. The people of Myanmar has an age-old tradition of working collectively as a family. They have the thousand-year-old tradition of helping to repair a house in a community and contributing labour in a reciprocal basis in farm works. They have the communal system of carrying out rural development undertakings covering the work of building rural roads and village-to-town roads. Every one of the national races of Myanmar takes part in the collective voluntary services of own volition and goodwill in accord with the religion and culture. Poor public relations and inefficiency of some village authorities in conducting community welfare services in a handful of villages, from among the total number over 60,000 in the whole nation, is the excuse the ILO has used in launching the accusation under the heading “forced labour”. The matters concerning the accusation are all at village levels. The matters originate from a handful of villages of the over 60,000 throughout the country. But the ILO is applying pressure on Myanmar, making accusations till the problems become the State’s concern.

Daw Nwe Nwe Aye of The Myanmar Times pointed out that she has heard the taking of actions against authorities of the villages where the alleged cases of forced labour occurred. She said that she would like to know about some of the cases.

Minister U Thaung replied to her question, saying that action has already been taken against six cases under section 374 of the Penal Code. For example, a mini dam was build in Bushwemaw village, Taungup Township, with collective labour for agricultural development. The collective endeavour was accepted by the entire village. But some of the villagers contributed funds for the workers who would take part in the work, on their behalf. But the chairman and the secretary of the Village Peace and Development Council, instead of hiring workers, used the funds for self-interest. Thus, there arose complaints. Action has already been taken against the two.

The minister said, in another case, the department concerned hired workers of six or seven nearby villages including the Kundaung and the Nantphalon to set up a teak plantation in Tamu Township. The forester who hired workers paid only a portion of the wages to the workers during the process of establishing the plantation, when he was transferred to another region. A complaint was filed against him, as he failed to pay the full amount of wages to the workers before he left the place. As there was firm evidence that the forester had misused the funds, action was taken against him.

U Khin Maung Myint of NHK said he would like to ask an encouraging news story. Some did not understand the arrest of some people from Shan State at the time of the National Convention in session. Owing to the clarifications by the Information Minister he realized why and he also learnt their intentions. The clarifications were very useful to the country, and the entire people would understand. Chairman of National Convention Convening Commission Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein had said recently that discussions and plenary sessions at the national convention are being held with greater momentum. It was learnt that the KNU left for Mawlamyine for talks with the government. He would like to know whether it is true or not and the developments regarding the ceasefire and talks between KNU and the government.

In his reply to the question, Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said he thanked for U Khin Maung Myint’s interest and seriousness about the encouraging and good news on the country and the people as a Myanmar newsman. There is direct contact between the government and KNU. Progress has been made in the discussions between officials concerned and KNU delegates in Mawlamyine.

U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV asked about action taken against Chairman of SNLD U Khun Tun Oo. It was reported that he had no right to hire a lawyer and no one was allowed to see the accused. He said in connection with this, he would like to know the true story.

In his reply to the question, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Brig-Gen Khin Yi said U Khun Tun Oo hired two advocates.

If the client could not do so, the government can hire a lawyer under the arrangement of the Bar Council in accord with the procedures. There are documentary photos of U Khun Tun Oo talking to his two advocates on 1 March 2005, the case was heard. He was allowed to talk with them to his heart’s content. The client had to sign himself whether he would like to hire an advocate or not.

After the hiring of the advocate, the power of the advocate, was submitted to the court. All these matters had been done by U Khun Tun Oo himself. A lawyer could not be hired by the client’s wife or husband without the approval of the client. According to the news outside, three lawyers who came to the court were illegal because they were not those hired by the client. Although they understand the law, anything said outside is not in accord with the law. The government is making arrangements for the accused to enjoy his rights in accord with the law.

U Tin Maung Aye of Asahi Shimbun Daily said that he had learnt U Khun Tun Oo and party were put on trial. He said that he would like to know which day the first hearing took place and under which section they had been charged.

The director-general of the Myanmar Police Force answered the question. He said that the 12th of March had been the forth trial. Then, action was taken against U Khun Tun Oo under State-owned Economic Enterprises Law and 1947 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. The court will continue to take action against him according to the findings subsequent to further investigations. Moreover, they were also found liable to the formation of organizations and cases that create the public’s disaffection to the State.

U Nyunt Tin of Fuji TV News Agency said that he would like to know if the authorities seized micro books only in Yangon, and if there were other similar seizures in other townships such as Mandalay and Mawlamyine. The MPF director-general said that the drive covered the whole country.

U Ko Ko of Yomiuri Shimbun asked how many unlicensed cars had been seized so far and what actions would be taken in that case after 31 March. The MPF director-general said that up to 15 March 2005, the number of unlicensed cars had reached 3,893. Action would be taken against those who still hold unlicensed cars until 31 March. The authorities had already warned the people against dismantling unlicensed cars into parts to wilfully change the appearance of the cars. However, some failed to heed the warning and there had been some action taken against such persons. On 9 March 2005, the authorities arrested Zaw Latt and Aung Myint Myat who were unfixing an unlicensed Super roof into parts in the garage of U Tun Tun of Kamayut. The Kamayut Police Station took action against the two under Section 201 in additon to Section 5(1)/5(3) of Export & Import Law.
 

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