----------------------------------BurmaNet---------------------------- "Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The BurmaNet News: November 10, 1996 Issue #565 SPECIAL EDITION - FBC UPDATE HEADLINES: ========== BURMANET EDITOR'S NOTE BOYCOTT WENTE: BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS LETTER FROM PEPSI DISTRIBUTOR CALLING FOR SANCTIONS AUSTRALIAN AID AGENCIES CALL FOR TOURISM BOYCOTT IUF/SWISS APPEAL ON BURMA TOURISM BURMA ACTION GROUP UK - DON'T VISIT BURMA YET BURMA ACTION-IRELAND UPDATE FRENCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST TOTAL AND FIDH REPORT EAST ANGLIA U. STUDENT UNION BOYCOTTS TOURISM TO BURMA UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ACTIVISTS SQUARE OFF AGAINST TEXACO OHIO UPDATE ARIZONA UPDATE FREE BURMA ACTION IN ALASKA FBC: CAMPAIGN UPDATE MASSACHUSETTS FREE BURMA UPDATE FBC: NOTES FROM HIGH SCHOOL FREE BURMA ACTIVISTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BURMANET EDITOR'S NOTE November 10, 1996 The Free Burma movement has expanded tremendously over the past year - both geographically and in terms of groups within the population. In particular, high school students in the United States have begun taking an active role in the campaign, bringing their whole families with them (see their letters at the end of this issue). At the same time, groups in Ireland, Switzerland, and France (see their reports below) have become increasingly organized and effective. Over the past few months, several positive steps have been taken. Both the United States and the European Union have placed visa bans on SLORC officials and their families. Even before the ban, the US denied a visa to Steven Law, the son of reputed drug dealer Lo Hsing Han. The EU has also banned high level EU delegations from visiting Burma. In September, the US Congress passed sanctions legislation which allows the President to impose sanctions if Aung San Suu Kyi is rearrested or harmed or if the SLORC carries out "large-scale repression" against the NLD. Several spokespeople for ASEAN countries have also publicly declared that Burma is not ready for ASEAN membership. Meanwhile, more businesses have pulled out (Carlsberg, Heinekin, and BHS) and many others have decided not to go in. Two lawsuits have been filed against Unocal criticizing their indirect role in human rights abuses on the pipeline. And campus activism is continuing to grow, with a divestment campaign at University of Wisconsin and boycott Pepsi campaigns else- where. The Free Burma fast in early October was also successful in increasing awareness about the situation in Burma and generating thousands of letters to President Clinton to impose sanctions immediately. (note: postings below have been abridged/edited by BurmaNet) ------------------------------------------------- BOYCOTT WENTE: BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS November 4, 1996 From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" Larry Dohrs, Free Burma Coalition, 206-784-5742 John Schwartz, Wente Vinyards, 510-447-3603 On November 4 an international coalition of human rights groups announced a boycott of Wente Vineyards of Livermore, CA. Boycotters criticize Wente's links to its Burmese partner Steven Law, head of Asia World Company Ltd. Law has been denied a visa to the US based on suspected involvement in the drug trade. While other companies have been boycotted for their support of Burma's military regime, Wente is the first company to be targeted due to concerns over Burmese heroin exports. Burma supplies most of the world's heroin, including 60% of the heroin in the US and 80% in Canada. In March, a State Department narcotics report said about Burma, "lack of enforcement against money laundering has created a business environment conducive to the use of drug-related proceeds in legitimate commerce." Wente announced its Burma deal in February, describing Law as a "major player." Law is the son of Lo Hsing Han, called by the Washington Post "one of Southeast Asia's leading heroin traffickers." Wente VP John Schwartz is aware that Law is barred from the US, but has offered no comment. "Doing business in Burma is bad enough" says San Francisco City Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who led a successful effort to ban city contracts with companies doing business in Burma. "But Wente's 'business arrangement' with a suspected heroin trafficker is outrageous," he says, noting the troubling rise in heroin use by teens. The boycott is backed by the US-based Free Burma Coalition, which has members in 15 countries worldwide, the Canadian Friends of Burma and Burma Centrum Netherlands. Wente brand names include Wente Vineyards, Murrieta's Well, Ficklin Vineyards, Sergio Traverso, Ivan Tamas, Concannon Vineyards, Sokol Blosser Oregon Winery, and microbrew St. Stan's Beer. Asia World Co. has recently been the target of an investigation by the Australian television program "Dateline," which aired its findings October 12. --------------------------------------------------------------- LETTER FROM PEPSI DISTRIBUTOR CALLING FOR SANCTIONS November 2, 1996 From: Sean Armstrong In response to discussions with FBC activists in Eureka, CA: Nov. 2nd, 1996 Pepsi Cola of Eureka, CA, acknowledges the implication of the PepsiCo involvement in Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma. Although we here at the local level don't agree with the PepsiCo position in Burma, our success in conveying our message has been limited. [the CEO wouldn't even return phone calls to the owner] As you know from our letter to Craig Weatherup we have made our position known, but do not expect much response as our franchise is locally owned and quite small, representing less than one half of one percent of the toatal U.S. volume. It is Pepsi Eureka's feeling that this issue must be dealt with on a purely poitical basis. Only through rigid sanctions against Burmese trade will these problems be resolved. We have learned that to impose a sanction on a foreign government a measure must be brought before the United States Senate and pass by majority vote. Our recommmentdation in expediting the senate vote process is to direct all correspondence to the U.S. Senate subcommittee on trade, headed by (1) U.S. Representative Phil Crane of Illinois. With a concentrated effort behind an active letter writing or computer E-mail campaign we feel that the people of the Humboldt County area can voice their opinions on a national level where they can truly make a difference. As we are all aware, the real goal here is to aid and benefit the Burmese people, not jeopardize the jobs of the employees of Pepsi Cola Eureka. Sincerely, Steve Coughlin Pepsi Cola-Eureka -------------------------------------------------------------------- AUSTRALIAN AID AGENCIES CALL FOR TOURISM BOYCOTT November 1, 1996 (Australian Council for Overseas Aid) ACFOA Human Rights Office The peak body for Australian development agencies, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) is calling for Australians to boycott a tourist campaign by Burma's ruling military junta. The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) will launch a six month campaign "Visit Myanmar Year" in November 1996 to May 1997 in a bid to attract 250 000 foreign tourists. A new brochure on human rights and tourism produced by the Burma NGO/Community Meeting was released by ACFOA this week. Entitled Holidays in Burma? the brochure details tens of thousands of Burmese citizens who have been forced to work for the army in preparing infrastructure such as roads, railways, airports, markets and repairing historical sites for tourists. ACFOA Executive Director Janet Hunt called on Australians: " Don't support this brutal regime or condone their abuses of Burmese people by traveling to Burma during SLORC's tourism campaign. Tens of thousands of Burmese people have been rounded up by the army to slave on projects like the dredging of the Mandalay palace moat or building runways for the new airport at Bassein. Forced labor is endemic in Burma ." "In the longer term we don't want to isolate the Burmese people, but during Visit Myanmar Year, ACFOA is calling on all Australian travelers and Australian travel companies to condemn this abuse of human rights in Burma and to withhold their support for the SLORC's tourism campaign. We want it to be a big flop for SLORC," Ms Hunt said. Holidays in Burma? developed by the Burma NGO/Community Meeting focuses on human rights abuses committed in the name of tourism and sets out the case for not supporting travel to Burma. Burma was renamed Myanmar by the SLORC in 1989. The brochure notes extensive military holdings in the tourist industry such as the family of former dictator General Ne Win, who have a half share in Burma's airline Myanmar Airways. Upon arrival, tourists are compelled to exchange $US 300 at an artificial rate, the difference of which acts as a direct cash contribution to SLORC. Further information: Executive Director, Janet Hunt: (06) 285 1816 (w) (06) 281 0252 (h) Burma Project Administrator, (03) 9417 7238 (w) (03) 9528 4508 (h) --------------------------------------------------------------- IUF/SWISS APPEAL ON BURMA TOURISM November 5, 1996 From: darnott@gn.apc.org Geneva and Basel, "DON'T VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 96" DON'T ACCEPT THE GENERALS' HOLIDAY INVITATION The Swiss-Burma Association, Arbeitskreis Tourismus und Entwicklung, and the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) issue a joint appeal to the Swiss people and the political and economic leaders of Switzerland to bring immediate support to the embattled Burmese democracy movement by refraining from traveling to Burma, and by refusing to cooperate in any way with the military regime. At a time when travel agents' catalogues are promoting Burma as the "mysterious land of golden pagodas", and the military junta is preparing to launch its year of tourism, it is vital to inform the public about the conditions under which this tourism year is being brought about: The preparation of the tourist infrastructure has involved massive human rights abuses. This "holiday paradise" is being built by forced labour. Throughout the country the people, particularly ethnic minorities and members of the democratic opposition, are subject to constant repression by the military junta. * SWISS TRAVELERS are strongly urged not to go to Burma at this time. Such a decision will not only support the endangered Burmese Democracy Movement, but constitute a sanction against those travel agents who close their eyes to extremely serious human rights violations in the country and thus put the quality of their clients' holidays at risk. * SWISS TRAVEL AGENTS are urged to respect the recommendation of their own organisation: in October 1995 the Environment and Social Affairs Group of the Federation of Swiss Travel Agents recommended their members not to promote Burma at this time. By accepting the invitation of the Burmese Generals and by cooperating with them, travel agents bring discredit on themselves and betray the trust of their clients, who rely on their advice. Beyond the tourist industry, the SWISS BUSINESS COMMUNITY is urged not to invest in Burma at this time. Multinational companies like brewers Heineken (Netherlands) and Carlsberg (Denmark) have withdrawn from the country in recent months. They took this action not least as a result of pressure from trade unions, workers and threats of sanctions. The SWISS GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION are urged to bring effective support to the endangered Burmese democratic forces, in particular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in order to actively encourage the process of democratisation in the country. The Burmese Democracy Movement is asking for international sanctions against the military junta. The United States and European Union have imposed sanctions in recent weeks, and ASEAN is currently reconsidering whether Burma is ready to enter the Association. One might therefore expect that the SWISS PARLIAMENT Will revise the law on the export of war materials so that the export of Pilatus planes (and spare parts) to Burma will be forbidden. Only last Spring, attacks made by adapted Pilatus P7s in the junta's offensive against Karenni civilians in Kayah State led to the flight of thousands of people. This statement is supported by: Arbeitsgemeinschaft gegen Kinderprostitution, Human rights working group of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (SEK), Bread for All, FIZ --Information Centre for Third World Women, Society for Threatened Peoples (Switzerland), International Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical Employees (FIET), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Further information from Christine Plss, Arbeitskreis Tourismus und Entwicklung, Basel, Tel (061) 261 4742; Fax 261 4721 Claude Schauli, Association Suisse-Birmanie; Tel 079/203. 84.65 Dan Gallin, Peter Rossman, Secretariat of IUF; Tel 022/793.22.33; Fax 793 2238 ------------------------------------------------------------------ BURMA ACTION GROUP UK - DON'T VISIT BURMA YET October 28, 1996 >From bagp@gn.apc.org The Burma Action Group UK presents "DON'T VISIT BURMA YET" 7pm,Tuesday 19th November 1996, the Royal Institution Guest speakers: John Pilger & A special guest The Burma Action Group UK are pleased to invite you to attend a unique fund-raising event which will be held on the evening of the 19th November 1996, hosted on our behalf by the prestigious journalist John Pilger. During the evening he will screen a previously unreleased interview between himself and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and will speak about his recent visit to Burma. Daw Suu has called for a tourism boycott of her country, in particular during the repressive military dictatorship's heralded "Visit Myanmar Year 1996". Programme 7.00pm Reception and Photo exhibition 7.30pm Screened interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 8.00pm Talk by John Pilger, Discussion session 9.00pm Address by our special guest 9.15pm Burmese food, book signing by John Pilger, sale of merchandise, "The story of Suu" by reknowned storyteller Danny Scheninmann Donations welcomed, 10.30pm Ends For reservations, contact The Burma Action Group, Collins Studios, Collins Yard, Islington Green, london, N1 2XU Tel: (44) (0)171 359 7679 Fax: (44) (0)171 354 3987 E-mail: bagp@gn.apc.org ----------------------------------------------------------- BURMA ACTION-IRELAND UPDATE November 1 1996 From: Neville Irons <100555.447@CompuServe.COM> We had a presentation of "Beyond Rangoon" at the Irish Film Centre earlier this month; it was a great success. John Boorman introduced the film and read a letter from out Foreign Minister Dick Spring....edited extract follows: "...you have my support and I express my deep concern for the plight of democracy in Burma today. I salute the extraordinary bravery and fortitude of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected leader of her nation who has been incarcerated and disenfranchised. I am aware that the situation is deteriorating and the SLORC is applying even more repressive policies. Democratic nations must increase pressure on the SLORC; with this in mind as President in Office of the European Union Council of Ministers I met twice in recent months with the Burmese Minister of Foreign Affairs and expressed frankly my deep concern and that of my EU colleagues in regard to the political and human rights situation in Burma. I might add that the situation in Burma is to be discussed at the General Affairs Council of the European Union in Luxembourg on 28th October." We in Burma Action-Ireland are following up this and have made excellent contacts in the EU administration both in Ireland and Brussels. ---------------------------------------------------------------- FRENCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST TOTAL AND FIDH REPORT October 28, 1996 >From darnott@gn.apc.org The Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), which has national chapters in a large number of countries, issued a report on 23 October condemning the French oil company Total for complicity in human rights violations in Burma (see report on p3 of "Le Monde" of 24/Oct/96: "Human Rights activists condemn the collusion between Total and the Burmese dictatorship"). FIDH argues that forced relocations, forced labour and other human rights violations in the area are directly related to the pipeline; that "without the pipeline, some or all of the violations would not have occurred". The human rights organisation does not deny that Total has tried to avoid forced labour on the limited area of the actual pipeline site. However, Total's partner in the operation, the Burmese military junta, the SLORC, is somewhat less meticulous. Forced labour is an integral part of its economy, and forced relocation of whole populations its standard way of dealing with ethnic groups which have the misfortune to live in the wrong place. Total cannot claim innocence and protest that it was unaware of its partner's bad habits: the international condemnations have not been kept secret; indeed, the French Government, which sits on the Total board, is the very government which every year since 1989 has prepared the resolution on Burma at the UN Commission on Human Rights. In addition, non-governmental organisations have informed Total many times since the project was first discussed that human rights violations were likely in such an operation. It was predictable, for instance, that SLORC would use forced labour in carrying out its part of the pipeline agreement, namely to "guarantee the security" of the pipeline. FIDH also argues that the pipeline project constitutes "economic support" for the Burmese dictatorship, which "already benefits financially from the pipeline through loans guaranteed by future revenues". More than 50% of SLORC's budget is for the military. THE CAMPAIGN The report supports a campaign launched at the end of September by Agir Ici and a number of other groups in France, to get Total to suspend its operations in Burma. The groups concerned are: Aide Medicale Internationale, Federation Artisans du Monde, FIDH, France Libertes, Freres des Hommes, Justice et Paix-France, Peuples Solidaires, Reseau Jeunes Solidaires, Reseau Solidarite, Reseau d'information tiers monde, Survie, and Terre des Hommes-France. These groups, with a combined membership of approximately 20,000, will send letters and postcards to the Total officers, among other forms of action. The Burma Campaign accompanies a similar campaign on Elf and Shell for their activities in Nigeria. The information brochure is headed "Nigeria, Birmanie: les dictatures carburent au super!" ("Nigeria, Burma: dictatorships running on super!"). The brochure has a brief outline of recent Burmese history, the human rights situation, Total's involvement and the Burmese democracy movement's request for sanctions. The text on the postcard, addressed to the Chairman of Total, goes: "Your company is playing a key role in gas exploitation in Burma. Considering the political situation in the country and the appeal made by Nobel Peace Laureate Mme Aung San Suu Kyi and Burmese democrats for economic sanctions on their country, I ask you to SUSPEND TOTAL'S OPERATIONS IN BURMA until the military restores civilian rule......" Those wanting further information on the campaign, or campaign materials, should contact Marie-Line Ramackers, Agir Ici, 14, Passage Dubail, F-75010 Paris, France. Tel (+33-1) 40 35 07 00; Fax 40 35 06 20; email agirici@gn.globenet.org ------------------------------------------------------------------ EAST ANGLIA U. STUDENT UNION BOYCOTTS TOURISM TO BURMA October 24, 1996 >From omtun@gn.apc.org Maung Myint Swe, a Burmese student studying at the University of East Anglia in England, is active in the student Union which has now decided to stop promoting and selling holidays to Burma and to give full support to movements and organisations which campaign for the cessation of abuses of rights in Burma. The following motion was recently passed by the Union of University of East Anglia (UEA) students: 1)The Burmese government consistently violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. 2) 1996 is the Year of the Tourism in Burma. 3) The Burmese government is a brutal dictatorship which suppresses any forms of opposition or dissent often by violent means. So, the Union is of the opinion that support should not be given to governments who violate human rights and prevent democratic processes. And the Union believes that the people in Britain should not give financial support to the Burmese government by promoting tourism to Burma because the dictatorship in Burma thrives off the financial rewards of tourism. Therefore, the Union has carried the following resolutions: 1) Not to advertise or promote holidays to Burma in the Travel Shop or elsewhere by brochures or any other means. 2) To publicise in the Travel Shop that brochures about Burma are unavailable. 3) To actively support societies campaigning to highlight and to prevent abuses in Burma. The East Anglia University Student Union is the first University student Union in the UK, which has joined hand with the Burmese people and Burmese students in their quest for democracy. ----------------------------------------------------------- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ACTIVISTS SQUARE OFF AGAINST TEXACO November 8, 1996 from zni@students.wisc.edu Yesterday, we had about 100 supporters that showed up at the meeting before the UW Regents Business and Finance Committee. Three people officially made a compelling case for divestment from Texaco and PepsiCo. 15 other organziers from across Wisconsin spoke in support of Burma in the context of Socially Responsible Investment campaign. Although the full board of Regents' meeting was delayed for an hour, because of the sheer number of supporters including business school professors who teach business ethics and social responsibility, community activits, city council members, and public interest lawyers from various foundations in town, we were able to make the Regents switch their agenda and allow us present our case at scheduled time. The decision on our demands (divesture from Pepsi and Taxaco, adoption of socially reponsible investment policies, and establishment of a to be made up of faculty,student, alumni, and citizen to oversee the UW business activities) will be made by February, 1997. The Wisconsin Press was there including the Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin State Journal, campus papers, and so on. The Associated Students of Madison (UW-Madison student government) and the United Council (student government for the entire UW system) will be taking up this issue. At the United Council we are trying to get the resolution passed which will get rid of all Pepsi businesses from the entire UW System. (Contact: Greg at gmolk412@uwsp.edu) The next step for us in Wisconsin is to go after Wisconsin State Pension Fund which has holdings worth about $30 billion. Anyone of you campus spiders want to work on launching campus-community-based campaign on the subject of social responsibility using Free Burma campaign as a springboard, please do contact us here in Wisconsin. (Contact: John Rosen at jmrosen@ix.netcom.com) Stanford, Wesleyan, Macalester, Northwestern, U. Chicago, and several other campuses are working on this project as well. ---------------------------------------------------------- OHIO UPDATE October 27 1996 From: Lisa Booth Brooten We here in Ohio just had our first "statewide" meeting last Saturday (10/19). Actually, this meeting ended up including about 20-25 folks from Columbus and Athens. Our next meeting will take place January 11th in Columbus, beginning at 11 AM. Specific accomplishments: ** we plan to set up a meeting during the December break with both Ohio senators, and hope to get representatives from at least Athens, Columbus and Cincinnatti to attend these meetings ** we are currently focusing on outreach so as to begin 1997 with a concerted statewide effort ** we are trying to set up a statewide Burmanet to increase the number of people communicating on-line. I have agreed to act as the monitor of both Burmanet and Free Burma lists, to weed out what seems most relevant to our statewide efforts, and to cut down the volume to a significant enough degree that people actually stay "tuned" -- this will hopefully be a good forum for statewide discussion/idea generation/planning, etc ------------------------------------------------------------- ARIZONA UPDATE November 7, 1996 From: People Before Profits Today we held a protest in front of the Taco Bell in the Student Union. We stood there with a big banner that said "Boycott TacoBell, Boycott Pepsi" and we also passed out informational fliers to people as they walked by. When the owners finally noticed us, they sent the Director of the Student Union down to kick us out. He talked with us about Pepsi's pullout and he is still convinced that Pepsi has no presence whatsoever in Burma. However, he gave us his card and we are going to set up a meeting with him. After the protest, the student radio station asked us into their studio for a live, on-the-air interview. It was very good and they were very supportive of our cause. The school newspaper also came out to take a few pictures. - Eric ------------------------------------------------------------------- FREE BURMA ACTION IN ALASKA October 27, 1996 >From atsm@UAA.ALASKA.EDU Alaskans for a Free Burma showed "Inside Burma" and had a discussion and handed out info. About 25 people came, which is good for this town. Now "Inside Burma" is going on tour to the Amnesty Int'l group in Kenai where Unocal is a big deal. Oil is big up here in general. I plan to hit the schools next. ------------------------------------------------------------------- FBC: CAMPAIGN UPDATE October 28, 1996 from zarni: zni@students.wisc.edu PEPSI CAMPAIGN PepsiCo has remained adamant against terminating its contract in Burma. If they lose a few more contracts in the US, they will be forced to reconsider their unethical business dealings in Burma. Currently there are serious Pepsi campaigns at a number of universities. We will keep you updated on the progress of the campaign as soon as there is a significant development for this academic year. PUBLIC "FREE BURMA" AWARENESS CAMPAIGN Because of the Octobr fast, local communities and our campuses have become better informed about our campaign. Recently St. Cloud State University and Macalester College held Burma nights where they had speakers and showed John Pilger's Land of Fear documentary. FBC WORKING GATHERING IN EARLY FEBRUARY The Free Burma Coalition plans to hold a WORKING GATHERING at American University in Washington, DC in early February of this coming year. It is time for us to begin developing colletive leadership which will guide the future course of our movement. This Washington gathering will give us an opportunity to meet with our fellow spiders and to actually share our ideas and experience with them. We can expect at least 200 spiders from around the world to come and attend this gathering. If you wish to help make this gathering a success, please drop a note to zni@students.wisc.edu The American University FBC has kindly agreed to help organzie the gathering. Jeremey Woodrum (jw1970a@american.edu) will be the host organizer and a bunch of us will assist him. HIGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGN There are a growing number of high school groups that are with us in the Free Burma movement. In a California statewide high school activist conference to be held at Standford U., the Free Burma campaign will feature prominently and we hope a lot more high school and other grade students will join hands with us. CITY ORDINANCES A city selective purchasing ordinance was recently passed in Takoma Park, Maryland. This brings the total of city ordinances to seven plus one state: Ann Arbor MI, Madison WI, Santa Monica CA, San Francisco CA, Oakland CA, Carborro NC, and Takoma Park MD, plus the State of Massachusetts FBC activists are currently working on selective purchasing ordinance campaigns in New York, Evanston and various other cities. TOURISM CAMPAIGN Please be on the look out for alumni and museum tours to Burma. Last year about 19 university alumni tours went to Burma. ---------------------------------------------------------- MASSACHUSETTS FREE BURMA UPDATE November 1, 1996 >From simon_billenness@cybercom.net I would urge other Free Burma groups to organize statewide. In Massachusetts, we have organized statewide for three years, meeting monthly and building a mailing and emailing list of 300. By organizing statewide, we were able to generate the hundreds of letters and phone calls necessary to pass the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law and ensure that both our US senators support tough economic sanctions. ROUNDTABLE NEWS This month's Roundtable meeting will be held at the Unitarian Universalists Service Committee at 7:00 p.m. on November 12th in Cambridge at 130 Prospect Street near Central Square. Please contact Shalini Nataraj at (617) 868-6600 ext. 225 if you need further assistance. Rob Fish, an activist in Maine, met with Jill M. Goldthwait, a Maine State Senator who is considering sponsoring a statewide selective purchasing bill in the Maine Senate. Also, Kathy Born, Vice Mayor of the City of Cambridge, expressed interest starting local selective purchasing legislation. UPCOMING EVENTS: On December 11, 1996, the Reebok Human Rights Awards will be held in Boston. A Burmese will be one of the award recipients. Invitations to the event will be sent to everyone on the Burma Roundtable list. On December 22, 1996, a talk about Burma issues will be held at the Ethical Society of Boston. Several Roundtable participants will be guest speakers. Marcia Poole of the BBC World Service, Burmese section, will be in Boston in December and may speak at our December Roundtable meeting. The Buddhism in America Conference will be held on January 17-19 in Boston. Gary Dmytryk is planning a table on Burmese activism. If you can donate time or money (the table costs $250), please contact him at (617) 491-1197. HARVARD UNIVERSITY students are planning to work on local selective purchasing legislation in Cambridge. Please contact Marco Simons at msimons@fas.harvard.edu BOSTON COLLEGE students will challenge their school's contractual ties to PepsiCo. They are currently initiating education and awareness activities and hope to proceed with engaging the administration in serious dialogue concerning their ties to "Burma businesses," given their Jesuit commitment to social justice. For more information, please contact Rob Matthews matthero@bc.edu Other Campus Burma Action Groups: TUFTS UNIVERSITY: Kathy Polias, kpolias@emerald.tufts.edu UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS: Nannette Skiba, 9120nskib@umbsky.cc.umb.edu BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY: Miriam Leibowitz, st931523@pip.cc.brandeis.edu SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY: Jonah, (617) 788-0630 ACTION! Please continue to write President Clinton and voice your support for sanctions legislation - each letter makes it more likely the Administration will impose economic sanctions once the election is over. President William Clinton The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20500 (202) 456-1414 ---------------------------------------------------- FBC: NOTES FROM HIGH SCHOOL FREE BURMA ACTIVISTS October 1995-October 1996 American high school activists are playing a growing role in the Free Burma Coalition. They have been involved in boycott Pepsi campaigns, information dissemination, and the October Free Burma Fast. Many high school students get their entire families involved in the Free Burma movement, asking them to not buy Pepsi products or eat at restaurants owned by Pepsi. Even grandparents participate, clipping articles on Burma from newspapers and magazines to send to their grandchildren. Below are some notes from High School activists which give a sense of their interests and commitment. ------------------------------------------------------------- From: Chris Roberts Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 Subject: Re: Free Burma I got interested in all this when I saw the movie Beyond Rangoon. I was at a friends house watching it, they are from Cambodia, and they said that stuff like that really does happen. I have never had a movie move me so much, the night I got home after watching it, I was just lying in bed thinking about it and wondering what I could do. A few days later, I searched the web and found the Free Burma site. - Chris -------------------------------------------------------------- From: Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996 Subject: Support from Northern Virginia Dear Free Burma Coalition: My name is Sarah McGill and I am a senior at Robinson High School in Fairfax, Virginia. I became fascinated with Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle for democracy last year and was encouraged to find your Web site. I missed knowing about the Free Burma Fast by less than a month. However, if you plan to have any other such activity or could use some help in any other way, please contact me at: DanMcGill@aol.com Please contact me if you need any high school support. I will let people know of the boycott on PepsiCo products and Texico. Thank you and your Web Site is terriffic. Sincerely, Sarah K.McGill -------------------------------------------------- From: JoE KermaN Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 20:09:26 -0500 Subject: hello I am Joe Kerman a freshman at Fort Atkinson High School (Wisconsin). I am a student in Mr. Rick Loose's world geography class, and when the situation (in Burma and Pepsi's connection) was explained, our class flipped out! Some decided to never drink Pepsi again right on the spot! We agree totally and want to do as much as we can, but since we are only freshman all we can do is spread the word around to others. So I am going to order some ban Pepsi stickers if you know of anything else a class of 15 year old World Geography students can do, I would appreciate it. Thank you. - JK ------------------------------------------------- From: Cris_Otepka@dante.creighton.edu (Cris Otepka) Date: 01 May 1996 Subject: hey ciao! yeah, i would be interested in helping out. One thing, though, I should probably get rid of pepsico in my school, first--right? yup--pepsico is all over my school: pepsi, ocean spray, fritolay. i'm a senior in high school and i have six days left! should i approach the president of the school (not of the stud. body, but of the school)? one of my teachers/friends wants me to start a schoolwide movement. what steps shall i take? i still have the (FBC) info you sent me. -cris ------------------------------------------------------ Sender: stark@students.wisc.edu Date: October 1995 Subject: (Madison) East High School Action We've been holding demonstrations in our cafeteria every day this week to protest Pizza Hut's week-long presence, with a table chock full of anti-PepsiCo signs, Burma literature, and copies of two petitions, one to be sent to C.E.O. Sinclair asking for a complete pull-out from Burma, and another to be given to the Madison School Board, asking them to adopt a Selective Purchasing Ordinance regarding Burma. Today we had a Burmese student speak before a class of about 30, most seemed interested as well as impressed, and we got a few more signatures at our lunch demonstration. Along with the Free Burma groups at Madison West, Shabazz, and Memorial, we hope to bring our petitions and our case before the School Board later this month. --East Students for a Free Burma --------------------------------------------- From: caliban@earthlink.net (Dave Nabti) Date: Thu, 2 May 1996 Subject: Student Activists for Burmese Liberation The talk (by a Burmese student) and movie about Burma at Branner Hall, in Stanford, was fascinating and informative. Several of our small group, Student Activists for Burmese Liberation, were there to hear it. What we are is a small group of high school students from Gunn and Palo Alto High Schools working to get legislation passed in the Palo Alto government to limit, and eventually cease to make contracts with corportions that perform business operations in Burma. So far, we have had only mild support from the city council members. One council member said that he would present a motion to put us on the agenda, but we have not found someone to second the motion. Any information that FBC could give us to help our situation would be greatly appreciated. Dave Nabti ------------------------------------------------- From: Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 Subject: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi I am a high school student doing in-depth research on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's struggle for democracy. Any help you could give, either suggestions for my research or personal knowledge would by greatly appreciated as e-mail to AllBright4 @ AOL. Thank you very much! -------------------------------------------------------- From: Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:54:27 +0600 I have recently started a group at my high school that combines human and animal rights. Our objectives are to inform people and to take direct action on this knowledge. Our first attempt is to help out with the situation in Burma. All this week we have been doing research and onto next week on Sept 25 we are organizing a meeting to inform the student body of the situation in Burma. Susannah Kim -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: cyclic@mediacity.com (Dave Rubin) Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996 Subject: Burma Hungerstrike My name is Zan Rubin, I am a high school student in Palo Alto, Ca. I work with the Bay Area Action Schools Group. If you could send me some information about the hunger strike in October that would be great. Also, if you have any ideas for a campaign we could work on that would be great too. Zan Rubin ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: yhl@juno.com (Yu-Hsuan Lee) Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 Subject: About Pepsico Hi,. If you remember me, I was the 14 y/o participant at the International Political Activism Training Seminar in DC this summer. I was wondering, what exactly is Pepsi doing is Burma? I know they have a partnership with SLORC, but what are they doing in that partnership. Also on the Webpage, there was a response to the letter FBC sent to PepsiCo. It sounded like Pepsi pulled out of Burma, is this correct? Thanks for clearing all this up for me. Please respond soon. - Yu-Hsuan -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: VNTN54D@prodigy.com (MISS VICKY M CHIU) Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 Subject: Re: Free Burma national fast coordinating committee I forgot to tell you that I go to an all-girls Catholic school which is more liberal than most but still very strict. Especially the administration are very difficult to deal with. For example, I started AI (Amnesty International) last year but this year, we're still not even listed in print as an activity. I really don't have a clue as to how to approach the principal (a nun) about the (Free Burma) fast and its purposes. Could you please give me a few tips? thanks, vicki