Aung San Suu Kyi (1989 photo)

Nearly 40 trade unions, at a conference on Burma in Katmandu this week, condemned the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate has spent most of the past 17 years under house arrest, and Burma's military leaders are holding at least 1,100 political prisoners. 

The trade unions also said they will urge multi-national companies to halt investment in Burma until democracy is established and forced labor is eradicated.

The meeting was organized by the International Trade Union Federation, International Labor Organization and Global Union Federations.