New NW Airlines Release

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Reply-To: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



Seattle Campaign for a Free Burma
2319 N. 45th St., Suite 115  Seattle, WA 98103  
Ph: (206) 784-5742  Fax:(206) 784-8150
P a r t   o f   t h e   F r e e   B u r m a   C o a l i t i o n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:		BUSINESS EDITORS, NEWS EDITORS


US GOVERNMENT IDENTIFIES TOP BURMESE HEROIN TRAFFICKER

NORTHWEST AIRLINES CONTINUES TO PROMOTE HIS HOTEL


MINNEAPOLIS--MARCH 11, 1997--Three months after being notified of the
heroin connection, Northwest Airlines continues to offer its frequent
fliers bonus miles for staying at the Traders Hotel of Rangoon,Burma. The
Traders Hotel is co-owned by narco-traffickers Steven Law and
his father Lo Hsing Han, according to the August 15, 1996 Far Eastern
Economic Review.  Steven Law is prohibited from traveling to the US by the
State Department due to his involvement in the narcotics trade. 

Robert Gelbard, US Assistant Secretary of State for International
Narcotics Affairs said on February 28, 1997 that, "Drug money is so
pervasive in the Burmese economy that it taints legitimate investment. 
Some 15 percent of foreign investment in Burma has been tied to the family
of narco-trafficker Lo Hsing Han." That day, Burma was denied US drug
certification for the ninth year in a row. 

Burma produces more opium and heroin than the rest of the world combined,
and State Dept. sources say at least 60% of the heroin on US streets comes
from Burma. 

"It's simple.  US companies shouldn't be promoting a hotel owned by drug
lords who ship heroin to the US." says Jane Jerome of the US-based Free
Burma Coalition. 

Northwest doesn't deny that Law and Lo are co-owners of Traders Hotel
Rangoon.  It acknowledges US government narco-trafficking accusations
against Lo and family, but it has not ended the promotion, according to a
company spokesman. 

Alfred Checchi owns about 20% of Northwest's shares.  Checchi has been
mentioned as a candidate for governor of California.  Another influential
shareholder is millionaire Richard Blum, who owns about 5% of Northwest. 
Blum is the husband of anti-drug crusader Senator Diane Feinstein of
California. 

"That the Burmese economy is based on narco-dollars is quite obvious" says
Dr. Sein Win, head of the NCGUB, Burma's democratic government in exile. 
"It is incredible that a US company would promote a business owned by
known drug dealers."

One US company with connections to Steven Law, Wente Vineyards of
California, was successfully targeted by boycotters.  Numerous other
companies, including PepsiCo, Motorola, Amoco, Hewlett-Packard, Apple,
Eddie Bauer, Heineken and Carlsberg have withdrawn from Burma under
consumer pressure, citing corruption, human rights concerns and "business
reasons," such as the selective purchasing laws passed in the State of
Massachusetts and twelve cities across the US. 

"US interests are clear" says Jerome.  "How can Northwest, Checchi and
Blum justify this?  When the US spends billions to fight drugs, when
heroin use is on the rise, when our communities are affected, Northwest
should not promote the 'Heroin Hotel.'"

Contact:  Jane Jerome, Free Burma Coalition, 408-467-2721 
Rick Dow, Northwest Airlines, 612-727-6465
National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma  202-393-7342
Larry Dohrs, Free Burma Coalition, 206-784-5742    	END