11.   In a bid to fend off further sanctions, the junta declared forced labour illegal for the first time.

12.   In modern Russia there are no thought crimes, and forced labour has been abandoned.

13.   In a statement the ministers specifically referred to the practice of forced labour.

14.   Informed sources said the men had been beaten, subjected to forced labour and not allowed to wash during their detention.

15.   According to rights groups it was virtually forced labour.

16.   Activists alleged that the Burmese military is using forced civilian labour to support construction of the Yadana pipeline while the Thai government looks the other way.

17.   According to Western estimates, nearly one million Burmese were last year deployed as forced labour, to build roads, bridges, tourist resorts or military complexes.

18.   Forced labour has also been spread to such areas as the renovation of temples, and in hotels and restaurants as Rangoon mounts a campaign to attract foreign tourists.

19.   Faced with the threat, the Myanmar junta issued a decree banning forced labour and allowed ILO missions to visit the country.

20.   The pipeline has been targetted by human rights activists for alleged use of forced labour by the Burmese government in the construction of supportive infrastructure for the project.