Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RANGOON811
2009-12-18 10:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
TWO FARMERS WHO COMPLAINED TO ILO SENTENCED; ILO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000811
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: TWO FARMERS WHO COMPLAINED TO ILO SENTENCED; ILO
TO PROTEST
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Farmers Sentenced on Trumped-up Charges...
------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000811
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: TWO FARMERS WHO COMPLAINED TO ILO SENTENCED; ILO
TO PROTEST
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Farmers Sentenced on Trumped-up Charges...
--------------
1. (C) Rangoon-based International Labor Organization (ILO)
representative Steve Marshall told POLOFF December 14 the
Burma government is "embarrassed" by the recent sentencing of
two farmers to seven years each in prison for cutting down
eucalyptus trees on their property, but has not yet addressed
the situation. According to a December 11 Democratic Voice
of Burma (DVB) article, a Magwe Division Court convicted the
two of "misappropriation and damages to public property."
After ILO Successfully Resolves 2007 Complaint
-------------- -
2. (C) The indictment stems from a 2007 incident in which
the Burmese Army attempted to confiscate and re-distribute
the farmland of a number of local soy and cotton farmers
unless they agreed to plant eucalyptus trees. (Note: It is
common practice for local officials in Magwe to redistribute
privately held land to those who agree to plant certain
designated crops, eucalyptus trees in this case. Eucalyptus
trees are widely cultivated in Burma for the gums, resins,
oils, and woods they produce, which local officials allegedly
sell for personal profit. End note.) After their land was
seized, the farmers complained to the ILO. The ILO
subsequently lodged a complaint with the Burma government on
grounds of forced labor (because of forced cultivation). As
a result, two local government officials were jailed and
another was dismissed. The government also required local
officials to return farmers' lands.
ILO Will Press GOB to Investigate Sentencing
--------------
3. (C) Marshall believes local authorities then framed the
two farmers in retaliation for their filing a complaint with
the ILO. Locals living in the area provided the ILO evidence
that local Forestry Department authorities cut-down trees
from another location and physically placed them on the
accused farmers' lands, then arrested them for felling those
trees without government permission. Marshall said he will
press the GOB to investigate this case.
4. (C) Marshall stressed the two instances in Magwe are
isolated cases and do not reflect the generally "positive"
relationship between Burmese authorities and the ILO. The
Burmese government resolves "90 percent" of cases the
organization brings to its attention, according to Marshall.
Magwe Division, he added, is a perennial source of trouble
for the ILO and he suggested that the GOB needs to "get that
area under control."
DINGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO
PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: TWO FARMERS WHO COMPLAINED TO ILO SENTENCED; ILO
TO PROTEST
Classified By: Political Officer Marc Shaw for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
Farmers Sentenced on Trumped-up Charges...
--------------
1. (C) Rangoon-based International Labor Organization (ILO)
representative Steve Marshall told POLOFF December 14 the
Burma government is "embarrassed" by the recent sentencing of
two farmers to seven years each in prison for cutting down
eucalyptus trees on their property, but has not yet addressed
the situation. According to a December 11 Democratic Voice
of Burma (DVB) article, a Magwe Division Court convicted the
two of "misappropriation and damages to public property."
After ILO Successfully Resolves 2007 Complaint
-------------- -
2. (C) The indictment stems from a 2007 incident in which
the Burmese Army attempted to confiscate and re-distribute
the farmland of a number of local soy and cotton farmers
unless they agreed to plant eucalyptus trees. (Note: It is
common practice for local officials in Magwe to redistribute
privately held land to those who agree to plant certain
designated crops, eucalyptus trees in this case. Eucalyptus
trees are widely cultivated in Burma for the gums, resins,
oils, and woods they produce, which local officials allegedly
sell for personal profit. End note.) After their land was
seized, the farmers complained to the ILO. The ILO
subsequently lodged a complaint with the Burma government on
grounds of forced labor (because of forced cultivation). As
a result, two local government officials were jailed and
another was dismissed. The government also required local
officials to return farmers' lands.
ILO Will Press GOB to Investigate Sentencing
--------------
3. (C) Marshall believes local authorities then framed the
two farmers in retaliation for their filing a complaint with
the ILO. Locals living in the area provided the ILO evidence
that local Forestry Department authorities cut-down trees
from another location and physically placed them on the
accused farmers' lands, then arrested them for felling those
trees without government permission. Marshall said he will
press the GOB to investigate this case.
4. (C) Marshall stressed the two instances in Magwe are
isolated cases and do not reflect the generally "positive"
relationship between Burmese authorities and the ILO. The
Burmese government resolves "90 percent" of cases the
organization brings to its attention, according to Marshall.
Magwe Division, he added, is a perennial source of trouble
for the ILO and he suggested that the GOB needs to "get that
area under control."
DINGER