Forced labour building roads in the jungles of Burma in 2007 Once again forced labor is being used to build roads through the jungles of Burma.

The CBC has obtained video showing that the government of Myanmar (Burma) is using forced labour to build roads through the jungle in some areas close to where the Burma ThailandRailway once ran.

The documentary by our Asia correspondent Patrick Brown was broadcast January 8, on the CBC National.

A couple of excepts from the script

It's being documented by a group of courageous young Karens who take video cameras in to the war zone and bring back the pictures which show the world what's happening there... Pictures of the strongest evidence of human rights abuses in what's been called the Forgotten War. In Burma itself, just being caught with a camera would mean prison or even death.

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PATRICK BROWN (REPORTER):
The Burma issues' video team took enormous risks to film this extraordinary evidence of villagers being forced to build a road for the Burmese army.
UNIDENTIFIED KAREN MAN:
(translation) Grandma, how much are you paid for each load of stone?
UNIDENTIFIED KAREN WOMAN:
(translation) I don't know about that.
UNIDENTIFIED KAREN MAN:
(translation) Are you paid for working here?
UNIDENTIFIED KAREN WOMAN:
(translation) No.
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You can watch the video (which is about 23 minutes in total) by
going to CBC.ca/national and finding the documentary "A Better Tomorrow." (requires Real Video or compatible player)

Labels: Burma, Burma Thailand Railway, CBC, Myanmar

 

7:16 PM posted by Robin Rowland  
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