Press Release: Terry Evans
22 September 2008
On Friday the International Labour Organization (ILO) announced that Burma's military junta has sentenced Thet Way, a
labour activist, to two years' hard labour.
Thet Way helped people file complaints about forced labour. His imprisionment makes a mockery of last years agreement
between the Burmese junta and the ILO, a UN agency which seeks the promotion of labour rights. The agreement provided
immunity from prosecution for anyone making or supporting those making complaints about forced labour.
Forced labour is continuing on a widespread scale in Burma and is accompanied by massive violations of other human
rights. Tens of thousands of Burmese citizens, under threat of arrest and/or bodily harm, are forced to work without
compensation as porters in war zones, or on massive infrastructure projects.
ENDS