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1988
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August 8-10
August 11
September18-20
September 23
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Suppression of protests and massacre
of at least 3,000 pro-democracy demonstrators
U.S. Senate passes resolution condemning
Burmese government
Continuation of protests and
demonstrations, even more demonstrators are killed or imprisoned
U.S. suspends all arms sales and
foreign assistance
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1989
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March 1
April 14
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President Bush decertifies Burma from
the list of states cooperating with U.S. narcotics efforts
President Bush suspends Burma’s GSP
eligibility
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1990
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May 25
May 27
August 20
October 5
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U.S. Senate votes to ban Burmese
imports
The NLD defeats opposition in Burmese
election, military government refuses to cede power and imprisons party
leaders
Congress passes Customs and Trade Act
of 1990
Burmese reject new U.S. ambassador
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1991
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January 17
July 22
October
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ICFTU testifies before the ILO
Committee of Experts
President Bush invokes sanctions
under Customs and Trade Act of 1990
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize
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1992
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June
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Burmese government responds to
allegations at the International Labor Conference
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1993
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January
February
March
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ICFTU makes representation to the
Committee of Experts alleging non-observance of Convention 29 by Burma
The Special Rapporteur on the
situation of Human Rights in Burma submits report to the UN Commission on
Human Rights
Governing Body of the ILO accepts the
ICFTU’s representation and forms committee to examine question
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1994
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April 30
November
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Congress place Burma on list of
international “outlaw” states
Governing Body adopts report of
committee and urges government to take necessary steps as recommended by
committee
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1995
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June
December
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The Committee on the Application of
Standards at the International Labor Conference calls for immediate repeal of
Town and Village Acts
Senator McConnell introduces “Burma
Freedom and Democracy Act” in the Senate
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1996
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June
September 30
October
October 3
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At the International Labor
Conference, Article 26 complaint filed by 25 worker delegates charging the
Burmese government with non-compliance of Convention 29
President Clinton signs the 1997
Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, barring new U.S. assistance to Burma
U.S. downgrades representation to
Burma from Ambassador to Chargé d’Affaires
President Clinton bars Burmese
government leaders from entering the United States
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1997
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March
May 20
December
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Commission of Inquiry established by
the ILO Governing Body
President Clinton signs executive
order prohibiting new investment in Burma
SLORC dissolves itself, reforming as
the SPDC
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1998
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August 20
November
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The Commission of Inquiry publishes
their report on alleged compulsory labor in Burma, stating that “there is
abundant evidence before the Commission showing the pervasive use of forced
labor”
Governing Body requests Director
General of ILO to submit report on measures taken by Burma to implement
recommendations set forth by Commission of Inquiry
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1999
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March
June
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Governing Body finds that Burma is
not taking appropriate measures to comply with recommendations, deciding to
place Article 33 measures on their November agenda
ILC adopts resolution that bars Burma
from attending ILO sessions and eliminating assistance to the state under
Article 33 of ILO Constitution
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2000
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March
June
November
November 18
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Governing Body requests the
International Labor Conference to pass resolution with measures to bring
Burma within compliance
International Labor Conference adopts
the resolution, measures include requesting ILO constituents to reassess
relationship with Burma
Governing Body adopts measures based
on recommendations from the International Labor Conference and from report of
a Technical Mission to Burma stating that the government had failed to
implement necessary changes
Burma declares that they will no
longer cooperate with ILO
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2001
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March
May 22
June
September
November
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Discussions between Burma and ILO
proved successful and an agreement was made for an objective assessment of
the situation
Bill submitted to Senate by Senator
Harkin prohibiting importation of any article produced in Burma, based on
June 2000 International Labor Conference resolution asking governments to
reassess relations with Burma
ILC resolved to send High-Level Team
to Burma to conduct this objective assessment and to produce detailed
recommendations for ILO to secure compliance
ILO High-Level Team meets with
Burmese government officials and conducts interviews throughout the country
to assess government actions concerning forced labor
Report from ILO High-Level Team finds
limited impact of new legislation; suggests Burma needs to take further steps
including the establishment of a permanent ombudsman to investigate cases and
acceptance of ILO representation in Burma
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2002
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March 19
May 6
September
September 19
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ILO and Burma agree to the
appointment of ILO Liaison Officer in Burma
ILO appoints Leon de Riedmatten from
the Swiss-based Center for Human Dialogue as interim Liaison Officer
Aung San Suu Kyi freed from house
arrest
ILO appoints Ms. Hông-Trang
Perret-Nguyen as ILO Liaison Officer
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rules
that Unocal can be sued by Burmese workers over human rights abuses committed
by Burmese troops while guarding a gas pipeline project in which Unocal is a
partner
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2003
|
|
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February 13
May 14
May 15
May 28
May 31
June 4
June 17
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Congressman Pitts introduces a bill
in the House calling
for the deployment of international human rights monitors
and peacemakers to Burma
ILO and Burma agree to the
establishment of a facilitator to assist possible victims of forced labor in
Burma
American Apparel and Footwear
Association (AAFA) calls for a complete ban on U.S. imports of textiles,
apparel and footwear from Burma until the country demonstrates respect for
and enforcement of human and labor rights
U.S. Department of Justice files
amicus brief in Doe v. Unocal asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to
overturn previous rulings on the Alien Tort Statute and to implement a much
more limited interpretation
ICFTU logs a formal complaint with
the ILO against the Burmese Government over violations of ILO Convention 87
on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize
Aung San Suu Kyi arrested and NLD
offices closed after government crackdown
Congressman Lantos and Senator
McConnell introduce “Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003” in Congress;
would prohibit importation of any article produced in Burma until significant
conditions are met
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to
rehear arguments in Doe v. Unocal Corp
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