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May 5, 2006
The Alliance of Progressive Labor today marched with
members of the Free Burma Coalition to continue their call for democracy and an end to forced
labor in that country.
"The Burmese junta is keeping that country backwards with its continued oppression of the Burmese people," said APL Secretary-General Josua Mata,
"it is a dark spot in the already blurred map of democracy that is Southeast
Asia."
"We equally hold responsible those transnational corporations who continue
to do business with the junta at the expense of workers' rights there," added Mata.
"The case of UNOCAL for example, which lost a class suit filed by environmentalists in behalf of Burmese villagers, is a glaring example,"
said Mata. "UNOCAL, in cahoots with military officers, was ultimately held
liable for encroaching on their ancestral lands, employing violence to drive
them out and using forced labor in their operations."
"Today as we continue to push for the restoration of freedom in Burma, we also challenge governments around the world to take stronger actions against
the State Peace and Development Council," added Mata.
"We also call on the United Nations to put Burma on the body's agenda, specifically the issue of forced labor," added Mata. "Burmese workers bear
the brunt of the military's force and the APL shares in their struggle for
our common goal of fighting for and realizing our rights as workers," Mata
added.
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