1. For the embankment of Kayan creek situated below the villages of

A-ley-ywa and Pa-gan-taung in Kayan and Thanlyin townships, respectively

every household in the village tracts of (1) Ta-man-gyi, (2) Kyone-two,

(3) Yo-gyi, (4) Ma-gyi-gan, (5) Pein-kan, (6) Hla-be-lu, (7) A-ley-ywa,

(8) Aye-ywa, (9) Swe-ka-taw was forced to dig one and a half pits (total

6,000 approximately) between the 10th and 15th December, 1998. In

default, payment to the authorities of between Kyats seven hundred and

fifty to one thousand five hundred had to be made. We have heard that

this demand continues despite the completion of the project.

2. For the embankment of Kin-mon-chone creek near Kin-mon-chone village

(Kayan township) every household in the village tracts of (1)

Pyin-ma-gone, (2) Kyi-ni-chaung, (3) Kyone-kan, (4) Nyaung-bin-thar, (5)

Zee-byu-bin, (6) Kin-mon-chone was forced to dig 2 pits (total 3,000

pits) between the 12th and 15th December 1998. In default, payment to

the authorities of Kyats one thousand to one thousand five hundred had

to be made.

3. For the embankment of Sae-ma creek situated close to Pauk-pin village

(Kayan township), every household in the villages of (1) Ka-ma-ka-loo,

(2) Ka-mar-mat, (3) Maung-ma, (4) Paukpin, (5) Ka-ma-pa-kaw, (6) Oke-po,

(7) Mak-ka-than, (8) Kyu-taw, (9) Jone-jone-jya, was forced to dig 2

pits (total 10,000 pits) between the 27th to the 31st December 1998. In

default, payment of one thousand two hundred to one thousand five

hundred Kyats was demanded.

4. The existing embankment ( which was constructed with machines) to

prevent permeation of salt water on the eastern margin of Kayan township

having deteriorated, forced labour had to be given by one member of

every household in the village tracts of (1) Pa-ya-pyo, (2) Kyar-kan,

(3) Nyaung-larn, (4) Ohn-bin, (5) Sin-minn-aing, (6) Kan-tha, (7)

Sa-kan-gyi, (8) Pa-lu, (9) Aung-chan-thar, (10) Bo-lay, (11) Ye-kyaw.

Regardless of rain or sun they were forced to work on this project

throughout the months of August and September 1998. In default, a

penalty of Kyats three hundred was demanded.

5. The above proves that the denials by the authorities of the practice

of forced labour and payments for default are false.

6. The villagers from whom such forced labour and penalties are demanded

are undergoing tremendous hardship and suffering much more under the

strain of the existing climate of rising costs. Therefore, we ask that

the above practice be immediately halted nationwide.

Central Executive Committee

National League for Democracy

Rangoon

23 February 1999