New NW Airlines Release (r)

[rhelvey@xxxxxxxxxxx]

> Date:          12 Mar 1997 13:25:47
> Reply-to:      Conference "reg.burma" <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> From:          dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject:       New NW Airlines Release
> To:            Recipients of burmanet-l <burmanet-l@xxxxxxxxxxx>

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

READERS:  SINCE I DON'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON HERE, COULD SOMEONE TELL ME IF IT IS JUST
 COINCIDENCE THAT SENATOR FIENSTEIN (WIFE OF A LARGE
STOCKHOLDER OF NORTHWEST AIRLINES) OPPOSED THE MCCONNELL
BILL TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON BURMA?  OR COULD IT POSSIBLY
BE THAT THIS "LIBERAL" SENATOR WAS MERELY PROTECTING
HER FAMILY INTEREST IN INVESTMENTS IN BURMA?  HER RECENT
ATTACKS AGAINST CORRUPTION IN MEXICO COULD HAVE THE
APPEARANCES OF THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK. THANKS



> 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
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
Robert L. Helvey
Fax: (304)744-9093
Email: rhelvey@xxxxxxxxxxx