EU, US call for new sanctions moves against Myanmar

The South-east Asian state is already a virtual pariah for crushing a 1988 uprising, refusing to recognise the victory of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a 1990 election and flooding neighbouring states with illegal drugs.

France — speaking on behalf of the 15-member EU as well as other western countries including Norway, the United States and Switzerland — said Yangon’s military junta had not brought its legislation and practices into line with recommendations made by the ILO last June. The deadline for complying is November 30.

The EU acknowledged “progress in the direction of implementing some of the recommendations”, but said that this was not enough to prevent punitive measures, including an ILO call on member governments, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to isolate Myanmar.

Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Mya Thang said his country was cooperating and that a decision by the ILO to seek sanctions would be “tragic and deplorable”, tantamount to the UN labour agency’s assuming the powers of the UN Security Council. He urged the ILO governing body “to choose the path ofc ooperation rather than the path of confrontation and coercion.”

Japan’s envoy Koichi Haraguchi called for the body to wait for six months before reviewing Myanmar’s progress. “Let us try to cure the patient,” he said.

Malaysia — speaking on behalf of Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam — said their regional ally Myanmar was showing political will at the highest level to reach a solution. It urged the ILO to keep pursuing dialogue.

The debate centres on a report compiled by five ILO experts after meetings last month with Yangon’s military rulers, including Lieutenant-General Khin Nyunt, the powerful Secretary One of the State Peace and Development Council and intelligence Chief.

The report, which includes letters from the ministers of labour, home affairs and foreign affairs, says Myanmar has not directly met demands to pass legislation banning forced labour, which a 1998 ILO inquiry ruled was “widespread and systematic”.

But a letter from Myanmar’s Department of Labour, dated October 31 — five days after the fact-finders left — gave details of steps towards a forced labour ban, which a diplomatic source has said could avert the full weight of ILO sanctions.

Trade unions have estimated that more than 800,000 Burmeseare conscripted with little or no pay as Army porters or in construction and agriculture in slave-like conditions.

Yangon has long withstood Western pressure to transform itsdictatorial regime into a more open and tolerant one despite sanctions imposed by many of the world’s large economies.

These curbs have had little effect on the impoverishedcountry because its economy had long been shut off from the world already.