BURMA'S ILO REP READY FOR ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 001420 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS; PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015 TAGS: ELAB ECON PGOV BM SUBJECT: BURMA'S ILO REP READY FOR ENGAGEMENT REF: A. RANGOON 1351 ¶B. GENEVA 2936 ¶C. RANGOON 1222 Classified By: Econoff TLManlowe for Reason 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Burma's ILO Liaison Officer Richard Horsey received further assurances from the Labor Minister, both about his personal security and about the regime's willingness to engage on forced labor. He will raise the cases of Burmese villagers who have been charged by authorities with reporting information to the ILO. GOB action or inaction on these cases will enable us to gauge their level of cooperation. End summary. ILO Ready for Dialogue, But Is the GOB? -------------- ¶2. (C) In a December 14 meeting with emboff, ILO Liaison Officer Richard Horsey said his second official interaction with Labor Minister U Thaung after the November ILO Governing Board meeting in Geneva was "more positive and less confrontational" than his previous one (ref A). Addressing one of the ILO's primary concerns, the Minister provided assurances about Horsey's personal security, and said the investigation into the death threats he received was continuing, though there were no suspects yet. Horsey has not received any threats during the past two months, and has moved back into his residence. ¶3. (C) Addressing another ILO's concern, i.e., Horsey's ability to operate around the country with the assurance that those who contact the ILO will not be prosecuted, the Minister pledged his cooperation. According to Horsey, the ILO expects action on items raised in the June and November ILO meetings, including a framework to move forward on investigation and prosecution of forced labor cases. This framework must be worked out in the course of discussions, said Horsey, which should begin in earnest early in 2006. The Burmese Ambassador in Geneva had already begun discussions with the ILO, he added. Horsey expressed satisfaction that he would have regular access to the Minister, saying that he obtained an appointment the day after requesting it. Retaliation Against Claimants of Forced Labor -------------- - ¶4. (C) Horsey said he will follow up on the cases of GOB persecution of those who make claims of forced labor against the regime. Horsey discussed the case surrounding the death of Win Lwin while performing forced labor in December 2004 in Magwe Division in central Burma. The family filed a complaint against the government, and sent letters to both the ILO and the regime about the death. In October, the regime sued villagers, and their lawyer, saying they supplied false information to the ILO. The regime did not charge the family, but has called them to testify against the villagers who supported their claims of forced labor. ¶5. (C) Horsey said this case was similar to that of U Aye Myint, a lawyer for farmers who filed cases against the regime for uncompensated land confiscation in Bago Division, north of Rangoon. After being released from an earlier death sentence (for contacting the ILO),Aye Myint was re-arrested in September 2005 and sentenced to seven years imprisonment for "spreading false information." Horsey will strive to win the release of Aye Myint, and also Su Su Nway, (who was arrested after successfully suing the regime for forced labor),and to get the charges against both of them dropped. ¶6. (C) International press reported that nine people were sentenced on November 11 to lengthy jail terms (from 8-25 years) for contacting the ILO. Horsey said he had no direct contact with any of those nine, though he might have received some information from them, but could not confirm this. According to his information, they were not charged for contacting the ILO, but for "contact with an illegal exile organization," namely the Free Trade Union of Burma. Horsey said he would still address this case with the GOB, but as violations of freedom of association and the right to form unions, and not as persecution for contacting the ILO. ¶7. (C) Comment: Although he was more positive about his relations with the Minister, Horsey remains skeptical about the GOB's commitment to take action. He has several specific cases that we can monitor to determine whether GOB cooperation will go beyond the rhetorical. End comment. VILLAROSA