DATE=3/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BURMA / I-L-O AGREEMENT (L-O)

NUMBER=2-287789

BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

INTRO: Burma's military government has agreed to allow an official of the International Labor Organization (I-L-O) to be stationed in Rangoon to oversee efforts to eliminate forced labor in the country. V-O-A's Dan Robinson reports, the agreement between Burma and the I-L-O was reached after months of negotiations.

TEXT: The memorandum of understanding was signed after several days of talks ending this past Tuesday between a Burmese delegation and the I-L-O in Geneva. It comes about one month after a high-level I-L-O delegation visited Rangoon and held intensive negotiations on the wording of the agreement.

Burma has been under pressure from the I-L-O, which represents the international community in promoting labor rights, to put an end to the practice of forced labor. Human rights groups say the use of forced labor in Burma is still pervasive.

Two years ago, the organization agreed to impose unprecedented sanctions on Rangoon and called on its member organizations and U-N agencies to review all relations with Burma's government to make sure they were not supporting forced labor.

The I-L-O has been pressing for establishment of a permanent office in Burma to help fulfill its mandate. However, Burma's military had resisted.

The memorandum of understanding does not authorize setting up of a full I-L-O office in Rangoon. But it is significant because this is the first time Burma has agreed to in-country I-L-O representation, and it also opens the way for a future expanded I-L-O presence.

David Steinberg is Director of Asian Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He says details remain to be worked out:

/// STEINBERG ACT ///

The questions really are, what will happen in the future? What kind of freedom will this liaison officer have? What kind of support staff will he or she have? Will he be able to travel without announcement, to various places in the country. All of these questions have yet to be answered.

/// END ACT ///

Bo Hla Tint is spokesman in Washington for Burma's exile National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. He also says the test of the I-L-O / Burma agreement will be how much flexibility the new liaison representative will have:

/// BO HLA TINT ///

We welcome their gesture - the first sign of a more cooperative manner of the S-P-D-C to work with the I-L-O and the international community. But at the same time we are very much concerned about how much working space (flexibility) the I-L-O can get in Burma, and in the field.

/// END ACT ///

The memorandum of understanding makes clear that the new liaison official in Burma will pursue what the agreement calls "prompt and effective elimination of forced labor in Burma."

The agreement with the I-L-O also means Burma will face a bit less criticism at the International Labor Conference which takes place in Geneva in June. (signed)

NEB/DAR/kbk