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October Massachusetts Burma Roundta



Subject: October Massachusetts Burma Roundtable

Massachusetts Burma Roundtable - October 1996

September 27, 1996

As I email the latest Massachusetts Burma Roundtable announcement, I am
painfully aware of the arrests today of over 100 people planning to attend a
National League of Democracy meeting at Aung San Suu Kyi's house in Rangoon.
According to Reuters, hundreds of heavily armed soldiers have surrounded the
home of Aung San Suu Kyi to prevent the meeting.  

It is vital that we continue mobilize political support for economic
sanctions on the Burmese military junta. Please voice your support for
sanctions by attending the Burma Roundtable meetings this month. And make
sure you write President Clinton to demand US economic sanctions on Burma!

 - Simon Billenness
------------------------------------------------
In this month's email alert (written by Charlotte O'Sullivan)

1.  Notice of October 15 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable
2.  Minutes of September 10 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable
3.  Upcoming Events
4.  Washington Update
5.  Action Alert!  Write President Clinton in Support of Sanctions on Burma!
6.  Campus Contacts
------------------------------------------------
1.  Notice of October 15 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable

*****     Next Massachusetts Burma Roundtable meeting: Tuesday, October
15th, 7:00 p.m.  
at Franklin Research and Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111,
(617) 423-6655. We hope to see you there!   ******

2.  Minutes of September 10 Massachusetts Burma Roundtable

Another Summer has come and gone and we are entering into an eventful Fall
Season.  For those of you who missed September's Roundtable meeting, we had
a great meeting and were pleasantly surprised with a visit from State
Representative Byron Rushing.  Many thanks to Shalini Nataraj for bringing
the delicious homemade snacks. 

Several things were discussed at the meeting.  Representative Rushing
updated us on the status of the Selective Purchasing measure which was
executed this summer by Governor Weld.  A list of companies which the state
will not be buying from will be available soon. Should you wish to view this
list, please contact Philmore Anderson, Purchasing Agent at the Office of
Procurement and General Services, who can be reached at (617) 727-7500 x211.
Also, since other human rights groups offered support in favor of Burma
legislation, Rep. Rushing thought we should be informed of the pending East
Timor legislation.  For more information about this legislation, please
contact him at (617) 722-2220.   

Charles Baroody, a newcomer to the Roundtable who recently returned from
spending 4 years in Thailand is planning a multi-media art presentation next
year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Burma's independence and to
bring attention to the continuing struggle for freedom of the Burmese
people.  For more information please contact Mr. Baroody at (603) 436-9246. 

Lastly, many thanks to the following individuals who donated money for the
assistance of the Burmese dissident and his family in Thailand:  Mr. Niki
Baccus, Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Lam, Mr. and Mrs. Noel Redford and Mrs. Jean
Anderson.  Our goal was met and the Burmese family should be arriving safely
in Australia.  Should you wish to contribute money or help other Burmese
refugees, please contact Tin Tin Nyo at 388-0038

3.  Upcoming Events

On OCTOBER 7: a Rally will be held at Boston Common.  This is a solidarity
event with other organizations across the globe who are holding events on
this day in support of the Burmese Democracy movement.  Please come out and
bring your friends.  There will be some great speakers and Burmese music and
dance. To volunteer, please contact Nanette Skiba at (617) 524-0045. 

On OCTOBER 17TH: Thet Thet Lwin of the Burmese Women's Union and Ohmar Khin
of Refugees International will speak about the women's angle of the struggle
for freedom in Burma at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 3
Church Street, Cambridge at 6pm on Thursday, October 17.

(The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is organizing this 10-city
tour from their Cambridge office and volunteers are needed.  For more
information contact Shalini Nataraj at (617) 868-6600. )

On OCTOBER 20TH: a forum, Towards a Free Burma will be held at the Kennedy
Library.  It is sponsored by the UUSC, CPPAX and the Massachusetts Burma
Roundtable.  Panelists will include The Boston Herald's Christopher Cox,
Burmese activists Tin Tin Nyo and Zaw Wynn Tan, Albert Einstein Institute
scholar Gene Sharp and Simon Billenness from Franklin Research &
Development.  We will be having a table at the forum and also need someone
to prepare a brochure.  If interested, please contact Simon Billenness at
(617) 423-6655 x225.

The Buddism in America Conference will be held on January 17-19 in Boston.
Gary Dmytryk is planning a table on Burmese activism at the conference.  If
you can donate time or money (the table costs $250), please contact him at
(617) 491-1197. 

Several people have expressed interest in a New England regional Burma
Action strategy meeting.  This could be held in mid-January to early
February, 1997 as a lead-up to the next national strategy meeting that will
probably take place in Washington DC in June or July.  Please call Simon
Billenness at (617) 423-6655 x. 225 should you wish to get involved.

4.  Washington Update

It appears likely that Congress will pass limited sanctions on Burma.  The
word from Washington DC is that the House /Senate conference has reached
agreement on the language on Burma in the Foreign Aid Bill.  The agreed
language will include a ban on new investment in Burma if the military junta: 
* harms, imprisons or kills Aung San Suu Kyi    
* commits large-scale repression of the Burmese
democracy movement.
It is expected that President Clinton will soon sign into law legislation
containing this language on Burma.  It is also rumored that the
Administration may also soon announce that it will refuse to issue U.S.
visas to members of the Burmese military junta.

5. Action Alert!  Write President Clinton in Support of Sanctions

President Clinton has the power to impose wide-ranging sanctions on Burma,
including bans on US investment and US imports from Burma.  Through issuing
a simple executive order, the President can add teeth to the
Administration's ritual denunciations of the crackdown in Burma.  

We have done a good job of lobbying the Massachusetts Congressional
delegation.  But the Administration has not heard from voters on this issue!
Let's change that now....

Suggestions for your letter:

*  First specifically ask the President to impose sanctions.  

*  Include a personal paragraph describing yourself (mention it if you are a
registered Democrat) and your interest in Burma.  

*  Mention your deep concern over the recent arrests and prison sentences in
Burma.  

*  Stress Aung San Suu Kyi's support for economic sanctions and mention that
she just received the prestigious Harriman award from the National
Democratic Institute.  

*  Be sure and ask President Clinton for a reply.  

For extra impact, please send copies of your letter to Senator Warren
Christopher and National Security Advisor Anthony Lake.   

President William Clinton       		
The White House				
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW		
Washington DC 20500			
(202) 456-1414				

Warren Christopher							
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C. Street NW
Washington DC 20520
(202) 647-4000

National Security Advisor Anthony Lake
National Security Council
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW 
Washington DC 20500 
(202) 456-9481

6.  Campus Contacts

There are several Boston area university Burma Action Groups who have been
active on numerous projects.  We will keep you updated of their activities
and events.  Should you wish to contact them directly, please call: 

HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
Marco Simons, (617) 493-2186 , msimons@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TUFTS UNIVERSITY 
Kathy Polias, (617) 627-7799, kpolias@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BOSTON COLLEGE 
Rob Matthews, (617) 562-1749 or (617)655-2315, matthero@xxxxxx

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
Nannette  Skiba, (617) 524-0045 
9120nskib@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY
Miriam Leibowitz, stn31523@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
Jonah, (617) 788-0630
 
*Newsletter edited by Charlotte O'Sullivan, (617) 789-4352,
imchaos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 21 Hooker St., Allston, MA 02134.  

For circulation, please call Simon Billenness at (617) 423-6655 x225, c/o
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02111,
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxxx