The BurmaNet News, March 17, 1997

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------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
----------------------------------------------------------

The BurmaNet News: March 17, 1997
Issue #669

HEADLINES:
==========
REUTER:BURMA?S ETHNIC REBELS MAY RENEGE 
THAILAND TIMES:UNHCR AID SPURNED FOR FEAR OF INFLUX
BKK POST:LONG-NECK KARENS IN LIMBO
THE NATION: KNU FREE TO GIVE UP
THAILAND TIMES:THAI HOSTILITY AND NEGLECT HIT KAREN
THE NATION: FESTIVAL OF FUN
SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS: UPDATE ON BURMA
FBC: KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE OIL COMPANIES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

REUTER:BURMA?S ETHNIC REBELS MAY RENEGE ON CEASEFIRES 
March 16, 1997
By Sutin Wannabovorn 

BANGKOK, March 16 (Reuter) - Recent skirmishes between a major rebel group
and Burmese troops may start to unravel ceasefire deals between Rangoon and
more than a dozen ethnic rebel armies, diplomatic, Thai and rebel sources
said on Sunday. 

At least 100 ethnic Wa and Burmese fighters have been killed over the past
few months in skirmishes between the guerrillas of the United Wa State Army
(UWSA) and government troops in northeastern Burma, Thai and Wa sources said
on Sunday. 

The UWSA was one of the first and regarded as the strongest among the 15
ethnic rebel groups that reached loosely-formed ceasefire accords with
Burma?s State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) after the junta
seized power in 1988. 

Rangoon-based diplomats said if the Wa and other rebel groups decided to
resume fighting it could spark wider unrest in the country among democracy
supporters, peasants and students. 

The Wa, former headhunters who were the rank and file of the Communist Party
of Burma?s military wing, mutinied against their communist leaders in 1989
and agreed to a ceasefire with SLORC in exchange for autonomy in their Shan
state strongholds. 

But recently the UWSA has clashed with Burmese troops in the eastern region
of the country, sources on the border said. 

?The UWSA defied the Burmese demand to withdraw from Doi Lang and other
jungle bases that used to belong to Khun Sa and fighting has resumed,? a
Thai security source who monitors the border situation told Reuters. 

Doi Lang was a stronghold of Khun Sa, the opium warlord who surrendered to
Burmese troops last year. 

The source cited field reports that at least 100 people from both sides had
been killed during skirmishes in Burma?s Mong Yon, Mong Kok and Doi Lang
areas over the past few months. 

The UWSA, which used to support Burma in its military operations against the
Wa?s arch rival, Khun Sa?s Mong Tai Army (MTA), sent guerrillas to occupy
former MTA bases after Khun Sa surrendered. 

Thai and Western anti-narcotics agents say the Wa were the strongest rival
to the MTA for heroin production in Burma -- the world?s largest source of
opium and heroin. 

Veteran UWSA commander Maha Hsang said although there had been no serious
fighting, minor altercations ontinued and full-blown attacks could resume. 

?The fighting was halted after the SLORC stopped talking about our
withdrawing from Doi Lang,? Maha Hsang told Reuters in a telephone interview
from the border. 

?Despite the fact that all parties have halted major military operations I
think fighting will resume sooner or later. Everyone is sitting on a time
bomb,? Haha Hsang said. 

He said mistrust between the rebels and the SLORC still prevailed, so he
doubted the UWSA members would fulfill the SLORCÕs demand to hand over their
weapons by 1999. 

Diplomats and analysts in Rangoon have said a major problem for the SLORC in
the coming months is how to deal with ethnic insurgency -- a problem that
has plagued Burma for decades. 

The SLORC?s main headache in recent years has been the democracy movement of
Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for
Democracy was barred from taking power after winning a general election in
1990. 

The 15 ethnic groups that have signed ceasefire deals with SLORC still have
weapons and control their respective areas. 

The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), another major rebel faction that
signed deal with the SLORC, is said to be ready to resume fighting against
the SLORC, rebel sources said. 

The KIO sent a representative to a gathering of the National Democratic
Front (NDF) -- a newly revived rebel organisation which fought Burma?s
military rulers in the 1970s and 1980s. 

KIO officials were not available but participants at last month?s NDF
meeting said the KIO had common views with UWSA. 

?The KIO also predicted that fighting will resume. Nobody trusts the Burmese
so they have decided to hold on to their weapons,? Khun Kyaw Oo, who
represented the Shan United Revolution Army (SURA) at the seminar, told
Reuters. 

The Karen National Union (KNU) -- the only major rebel group yet to sign a
ceasefire deal with the SLORC -- is still waging a war against Rangoon and
has headed up the NDF efforts for a coordinated attack against the rebels. 
 
**************************************

THAILAND TIMES:UNHCR AID SPURNED FOR FEAR OF REFUGEE INFLUX
March 16, 1997
by Yongyuth Times

BANGKOK: The government is afraid that United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) aid will bring more Karen
refugees across the border, thus preventing the UNHCR from
providing full assistance, a senior UNHCR official said.

While the UNHCR has come under flak for not doing more in the
border camps, Songsit Charuparn, the UNHCR's associate legal
officer, said the agency is only able to observe from afar.

The government, who is anxious to see the refugees back in their homeland,
claims that the high standard of assistance which the
UNHCR could offer would prove too attractive to Karens in living Burma's
border region, he said.

Since 1988 when the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) took
control of Burma refugees have been flooding into Thailand in their thousands.

The Slorc's recent onslaught against the anti-Rangoon Karen National Union
(KNU) led to a further exodus, swelling  the number of refugees in the
border area to over 100,000.

Living conditions for the refugees are harsh, and many of them
are in desperate need of food, water, medicine, and shelter.

Recent reports indicate that some 20 Karen refugees have been
killed by cholera in Kanchanaburi province, a direct result of
their poor living conditions and filthy water supply. Other
reports document widespread death form diseases such as malaria.

The government has given permission for a number of NGOs to
provide direct assistance to the refugees, in addition to the
support given by the Thai army.

But Songsit said that while the UNHCR is keen to go to the camps
to observe the situation themselves, they find it difficult as
they must first ask permission form the Foreign Ministry and the
National Security Council.

"We have received denials on numerous occasions, and the stated
reason is always security," he said.

Songsit said the UNHCR's role is thus reduced to a coordinating one,
contacting NGOs and state agencies and calling on them to provide assistance.

But this work is often essential, as was shown two weeks ago when a meeting
between the UNHCR and the National Security Council was
in large part responsible for Thailand halting its forcibly
repatriation of the refugees.

Songsit said the refugees could be compared to visitors wanting
to come inside form the rain.

"We want to make sure the visitors are not left to stand outside
the door," he added, "and we will let them out only once the rain
has ceased."

*******************************************

BKK POST:LONG-NECK KARENS IN LIMBO
March 16, 1997
Cheewin Sattha
Mae Hong Son

Authorities refuges to renew ID cards to a group of long-neck
Karens yesterday as it considers them refugees.

A queue of Karens gathered at the Muang district office yesterday
to have their ID cards renewed only to find that they had no
right to have them in the first place.

The Mae Hong Son provincial administration has a March 22 deadline for
applications for the renewal of ID cards from hill tribe villagers in
Thailand. This is because the cards are only valid for six years.

The last time the cards were issued was in 1990 and 1991. 

The authorities, however, believe granting the Karens new ID cards would be
tantamount to giving them Thai nationality and would encourage other
long-neck Karens to illegally cross the border from Burma.

Muang district chief Sitthichai Prasertsri said he had to tell the long-neck
Karens to "go home" because they were not Thais and as such were not
entitled to Thai ID cards.

The Karens fled fighting in Burma and were housed in Ban Huay Pu
Kaeng, Ban Huay Sua Thao and Ban Nai Soi in Muang district.

A border security source said some Karens had ID cards thanks to
the help of administrators at grass-root level.

Moo Khue was among those who sought to renew her card yesterday.

Her ID card was issued on August 12, 1991, and expires on August
11, this year.

*****************************************

THE NATION: KNU FREE TO GIVE UP
March 16, 1997
Kyodo

RANGOON- In a bid to persuade more Karen rebels to surrender, Burma's ruling
junta said yesterday the door for peace with members of the Karen National
Union (KNU) is open and the government is ready to receive them with open arms.

Gen Maung Aye, commander in chief of the army and dept chairman of the
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), made the comment at
a meeting with his troops in Tavoy, 400 kilometres southeast of Rangoon, the
national media reported.

Maung Aye has been visiting areas in Karen State and the
Tenessarim district where KNU rebel camps have recently been
crushed in an offensive by the Slorc which began on Feb 11.

He said the "insurrection-clearing operations" has been necessary
"since peace and transquility is essential for the development of
the country". However, he added, "On our part, the door for peace
is open for the KNU, with our arms extended to receive them."

Referring to those rebels who have already surrendered, he said, "As though
they were part of our own families, we are looking after those peace-loving
KNU members who have exchanged weapons for peace."

Thousands of the Slorc's troops launched mortar and artillery
attacks on Karen guerrillas last month, forcing some 2,000
refugees to flee across the border to Thailand.

*****************************************

THAILAND TIMES:THAI HOSTILITY AND NEGLECT HIT KAREN REFUGEES
March 16, 1997
by Thongchai Sakornrat and Preeya Hoksee

Recent influxes of Karen refugees from Burma have sent alarm
bells ringing throughout the Thai government.

The refugee crisis is very embarrassing for Thailand, who is faced with
international condemnation if it does not shelter the refugees, but it is
nonetheless keen to get Burma's Karens off its hands.

The thousands of refugees escaping form the Burmese junta's
recent onslaught against the Karen National Union (KNU) have
brought with them a wealth of problems for Thailand, including
diseases such as cholera rampant throughout the refugees camps.

Thailand's solution to this is not to assist the refugees, but to
send them home. Although the military have allegedly halted a
forced repatriation of the Karens, they have vowed that, as soon
as the fighting had "eased" (note that they do not say "ceased"),
the refugees will have to cross back to their homeland.

Having fled from civil war, the refugees have become pariahs in Thai
society. Instead of the Thai government negotiating with Burma's junta to
halt their offensive against the Karen people, the prime minister and his
cohorts try to blame the refugees for their own plight.

Thai people living in the border areas are no more friendly to refugees. The
Karen are seen as harbingers of a multitude of woes that range from disease
to contamination of the local water supply.

It is true that many of the refugees have built their shelter in areas near
where the water supplies are located. But rather than trying to help, local
people and the government accuse the refugees of poor sanitation. So what do
they expect? That the asylum seekers will be rich enough to build palaces?

A visit to the camp reveals just how harsh the refugees' living conditions
are. Dust gets in the food, hair, eyes, cloths, and no garbage collection
and disposal system means that disease spreads like wildfire. Health
problems are exacerbated because medical equipment and doctors are in short
supply and because the refugees receive no education on how to minimize
health hazards.

At a clinic in one of the camps in Kanchanaburi province, 888 of the
residents were found to have diarrhea, 270 were suffering from colds and
flu, 80 had caught malaria, and a further 54 were very serious cases of
dysentery.

Neither the government nor the army, whose chief General Chettha Thanajaro
is a bosom friend of his counterpart in the Burmese
junta, are oblivious of the problems.

Only a few days ago, Suthat Ngernmuan, the chairman of the House
committee for justice and human rights, led officials and the press to
inspect the Karen refugee camps in Kanchanaburi province.

But rather than "justice' or "human rights" resulting from the
visit, the army reiterated their allegations that the refugees
were in good condition and had little to complain about.

Meanwhile, rumors started spreading throughout the border area
that KNU members had deliberately destroyed their homes in Burma
to come across the border where living conditions were better.
But why should the Karen have demolished their homes themselves?
The junta's troops would have soon done it for them.

Thailand pretends the refugee problem is something beyond its control.
Instead of ending its close relationship with Burma. It simply complains
about Burma's refugees. Thailand is a country known for its tolerance. Why
is it what it tolerates human rights abuses on its doorstep, but does not
tolerate the victims of Burma's military regime?


***************************************

THE NATION: FESTIVAL OF FUN
March 15, 1997

After 50 years of struggling for independence, the Mon people
continue to live under the iron grip of Burma's military rulers.
What has kept them intact during these hard years of struggle,
however, is their compassion, faith in Buddhism, rich culture and
most importantly, their famous capacity to enjoy themselves.

Throughout history, the Mon have won independence many times only
to be conquered and subjugated once again by neighbouring armies.

Although they were eventually left without a state, they have
remained united and continue to live together.

Today the Mon State Party (NMSP) and its military wing, the Mon
National Liberation Army. The NMSP headquarters is deep in the
jungle in Burma's Tavoy District, just over the border from
Kanchanaburi province.

Mon National Day, held last month, revealed how this minority
group in Burma can enjoy festivities despite their ordeal.

The day is traditionally held on the first day of the third
waning moon according to the Mon calender. This year it fell on
Feb 23. They believe the date is auspicious because it was when
the Hongsawadi kingdom was established in 573.

However, most of the celebrations were held on the night before
the official day.

Throngs of revellers strolled down to a field in a Mon village,
where a range of activities awaited them stalls selling various
kinds of local products, a boxing ring, an open-air theater and a
merry go round.

But, for the adults, most interesting attraction was the gambling
which is only permitted during this special occasion.

This particular year, the atmosphere of the celebrations was more
formal. Hundreds of grim faced soldiers men and women marched to
a ceremonial ground where civilian Mon, dressed in traditional
costume, lined up to receive them.

Some placed garlands over the heads of the Mon military in
apreciation of their strength.

The highlight of the event was when Shwe Kyin, leader of the
NMSP, took to the stage to deliver his speech.

"We must be aware of the progress of this competitive world. In
the meantime, we should maintain our integrity," Shwe Kyin told
his people.

Ironically, Shwe Kyin's emphasised the importance of
technological development while his small army obviously lacking
state of the art weaponry stood by. More over, several of Shwe
Kyin's female soldiers fainted under the sweltering sun before
the finished his address.

The official ceremony ended with a march by the loyal soldiers,
with their strong determination to fight for independence
manifested on their faces.

However, seeing no light at the end of the tunnel, many have come
to terms with their current status and gloomy future.

As Buddhist devotees and lovers of peace, the Mon people are
praying that they will not have to take arms to fight against the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) as the Karen
ethnic minority have been forced to do recently.

According to Mon leaders, a ceasefire pact, between the Mon
people and Slorc was signed a year ago on the condition that the
Mon will be given more business opportunities including a
concession to run public buses in their locality if they stop
obstructing the construction of a gas pipeline.

However, the leaders insisted that while they have strictly
adhered to the agreement , they have yet to receive any
concession rights.

"Slorc members don't keep their word. They have taken everything.
This isn't what we've agreed," a Mon leader said.

********************************

SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS: UPDATE ON BURMA
March 13, 1997

UPDATE ON BURMA SHAREHOLDER RESOLUTIONS

This is the time of year when corporations mail out shareholder voting
ballots and invitations to their annual meeting.

This year, shareholder resolutions on Burma will likely be on the corporate
ballot at the annual meeting of:

Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO)
Caterpillar
Unocal

I have enclosed the full text of every shareholder resolutions at the end of
this message. The only exception is the resolution filed at Unocal by the
Oil Chemical and Atomic Workers Union (OCAW). I do not have the text of that
resolution on disk.

Unocal has requested the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for leave
to omit all of its resolutions. I do not yet know what the SEC will decide.
Texaco successfully obtained leave from the SEC to exclude its resolution.
The resolutions at PepsiCo were withdrawm when PepsiCo pulled out of Burma.

Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423 6655 x225
(617) 482 6179 fax
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx

------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO)

WHEREAS: Levi Strauss & Co. bases its decision on whether to do business in
certain countries based on criteria that include whether:

"Brand image would be adversely affected by a country's perception or image
among our customers and/or consumers"

"Human rights environment would prevent us from conducting business
activities in a manner that is consistent with the Global Sourcing
Guidelines and other Company policies"

"Political, economic and social environment would threaten the Company's
reputation and/or commercial interests"

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burmese democracy movement leader Aung San
Suu Kyi has specifically called for economic sanctions on Burma;

In its editorial of 5/30/96, the Wall Street Journal noted that, as the
Burmese military junta arrested more than 250 elected representatives, ARCO
President Roger Truitt was photographed in government newspapers with the
chief of secret police and a member of the junta who had the previous week
threatened to "annihiliate" Aung San Suu Kyi;

ARCO has paid several million dollars to an oil company owned by the Burmese
military junta for seismic data and exploration rights to two off-shore blocks;

It is reasonable to assume that, if ARCO discovers gas, ARCO will connect
its gas field to the gas pipeline leading to Thailand that is currently
being built by Total and Unocal;

Human rights organizations based on the Thai/Burmese border have documented
not only numerous human rights abuses committed by Burmese troops deployed
to secure the Total/Unocal pipeline area but also the use of forced labor by
the Burmese military on infrastructure related to the pipeline project;

On September 3, 1996, the democratically elected government-in-exile of
Burma filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking a court order halting
Unocal's role in the Yadana pipeline and seeking compensatory and punitive
damages. On October 3, 1996, a similar additional lawsuit was filed on
behalf of victims of human rights abuses in Burma;

Ten cities -- Ann Arbor (MI), Berkeley (CA), Boulder (CO), Carrboro (NC),
Chapel Hill (NC), Madison (WI), Oakland (CA), San Francisco (CA), Santa
Monica (CA), Takoma Park (MD) -- and Alameda County (CA) and the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts have enacted laws that effectively prohibit
municipal or state purchases of products from companies, including ARCO,
that do business in Burma. Similar Burma-related legislation is pending in
other cities including New York City and in the states of California and
Connecticut;

In September 1996, President Clinton signed into law a measure that included
a conditional ban on new US investment in Burma despite lobbying by ARCO and
other companies;

ARCO also does business in other countries with controversial human rights
records: China and Algeria.

BE IT RESOLVED: the shareholders request the Board to review and develop
guidelines for country selection and report these guidelines to shareholders
and employees by September 1997. In its review, the Board shall develop
guidelines on maintaining investments in or withdrawing from countries where:

· there is a pattern of ongoing and systematic violation of human rights
· a government is illegitimate
· there is a call by human rights advocates, pro-democracy organizations or
legitimately elected  representatives for economic sanctions against their
country 

------------------------------------------
Caterpillar

WHEREAS: Levi Strauss & Co. bases its decision on whether to do business in
certain countries based on criteria that include whether:

"Brand image would be adversely affected by a country's perception or image
among our customers and/or consumers"

"Human rights environment would prevent us from conducting business
activities in a manner that is consistent with the Global Sourcing
Guidelines and other Company policies"

"Political, economic and social environment would threaten the Company's
reputation and/or commercial interests"

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burmese democracy movement leader Aung San
Suu Kyi has specifically called for economic sanctions on Burma;

Hoppenstedt Affilations reported that Caterpillar has a wholly owned
subsidiary in Burma.  The Bangkok Nation reported that Caterpillar employs
about 200 Burmese;

The New Light of Myanmar reported that a delegation led by a Burmese
military junta minister visited Caterpillar plants in the US in April, 1996;

The Delhi Financial Express reported on October 5, 1996, that Myanmar
Tractors & Trading Co Ltd, a dealer for Caterpillar in Burma, secured orders
worth $40 million from the Burmese Defense Ministry;

In its June 1996 "Foreign Economic Trends" report, the US Embassy in Burma
stated that: "In mid-1996, representatives of a U.S.-based manufacturer
indicated that their firm had recently sold US $30 million of dual-use heavy
construction equipment to the Defense Ministry's Directorate of
Procurement."  (The term "dual-use" indicates equipment that can be used for
either civilian or military purposes.);

Eight cities -- Ann Arbor (MI), Berkeley (CA), Carrboro (NC), Madison (WI),
Oakland (CA), San Francisco (CA), Santa Monica (CA), Takoma Park (MD) -- and
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have enacted laws that effectively
prohibit municipal or state purchases of products from companies, including
Caterpillar, that do business in Burma.  Similar Burma-related legislation
is pending in other cities including New York City;

In September 1996, President Clinton signed into law a measure that included
a conditional ban on new US investment in Burma despite lobbying by
Caterpillar and other companies;

Caterpillar also does business in other countries with controversial human
rights records: China and Indonesia.

BE IT RESOLVED: the shareholders request the Board to review and develop
guidelines for country selection and report these guidelines to shareholders
and employees by September 1997. In its review, the Board shall develop
guidelines on maintaining investments in or withdrawing from countries where:

· there is a pattern of ongoing and systematic violation of human rights
· a government is illegitimate
· there is a call by human rights advocates, pro-democracy organizations or
legitimately elected  representatives for economic sanctions against their
country

----------------
UNOCAL

WHEREAS: Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Burmese democracy movement leader
Aung San Suu Kyi has specifically called for economic sanctions on Burma;

Unocal, in partnership with Total of France, the Petroleum Authority of
Thailand and the Burmese state-owned oil company, has a direct equity stake
in the largest investment project in Burma: the building of a pipeline from
the offshore Yadana gas-field to Thailand;

Human rights organizations based on the Thai/Burmese border have documented
not only numerous human rights abuses committed by Burmese troops deployed
to secure the pipeline area but also the use of forced labor by the Burmese
military on infrastructure related to the pipeline project;

Unocal has allowed no independent human rights investigation of the numerous
documented allegations of abuse of human rights in the pipeline area;

Eight cities -- Ann Arbor (MI), Berkeley (CA), Carrboro (NC), Madison (WI),
Oakland (CA), San Francisco (CA), Santa Monica (CA), Takoma Park (MD) -- and
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have enacted laws that effectively
prohibit municipal or state purchases of products from companies, including
Unocal, that do business in Burma.  Similar Burma-related legislation is
pending in other cities including New York City;

Media such as Businessweek, CNN Headline News, Economist, Los Angeles Times,
San Francisco Chronicle and  USA Today have published numerous articles
about the consumer and local government boycott of Unocal;

In September 1996, President Clinton signed into law a measure that included
a conditional ban on new US investment in Burma despite lobbying by Unocal
and other companies;

On September 3, 1996, the democratically elected government-in-exile of
Burma filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking a court order halting
Unocal's role in the Yadana pipeline and seeking compensatory and punitive
damages. On October 3, 1996, a similar additional lawsuit was filed on
behalf of victims of human rights abuses in Burma;

BE IT RESOLVED: The shareholders request that the Board of Directors appoint
a committee of outside directors to issue a report on the actual and
potential economic and public relations cost to Unocal of opposition to its
business in Burma.  The report, omitting confidential information and
prepared at reasonable cost, should include the actual and potential
benefits of continuing to do business in Burma as well as the costs to
Unocal of:

1. the growing boycott of Unocal products by consumers, including cities and
states 
2. the increasing lobbying by Unocal of federal and local legislatures and
governments 
3. litigation filed against Unocal 

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

We are deeply concerned by the growing boycott of Unocal products by
consumers, institutions and local governments. We are particularly disturbed
by the fact that, in the past year, this boycott has spread to a growing
number of municipal and state governments.

We are concerned that the damage to Unocal's sales and image of the Burma
boycott and the cost of lobbying against federal sanctions and local
selective purchasing legislation may outweigh the revenues and benefits that
Unocal derives from its business in Burma.  
----------------------------------------------------------------
UNOCAL

WHEREAS: We believe both social and financial criteria should be factors in
fixing compensation packages for top corporate officers. 

Shareholders and our Board of Directors need to be vigilant in challenging
executive pay packages that create reward regardless of corporate
performance and total return to shareholders.  For instance, should top
officers pay for a this year be reduced because of the costs that our
company has incurred because of its decision to do business in Burma?  

Unocal has a direct equity stake in the largest investment project in Burma:
the building of a pipeline from the offshore Yadana gas-field to Thailand;

Human rights organizations based on the Thai/Burmese border have documented
not only numerous human rights abuses committed by Burmese troops deployed
to secure the pipeline area but also the use of forced labor by the Burmese
military on infrastructure related to the pipeline project;

Eight cities -- Ann Arbor (MI), Berkeley (CA), Carrboro (NC), Madison
(WI),Oakland (CA), San Francisco (CA), Santa Monica (CA), Takoma Park (MD)
-- and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have enacted laws that effectively
prohibit municipal or state purchases of products from companies, including
Unocal, that do business in Burma.  Similar Burma-related legislation is
pending in other cities including New York City;

Media such as Businessweek, CNN Headline News, Economist, Los Angeles Times,
San Francisco Chronicle and  USA Today have published numerous articles
about the consumer and local government boycott of Unocal;

In September 1996, President Clinton signed into law a measure that included
a conditional ban on new US investment in Burma despite lobbying by Unocal
and other companies;

On September 3, 1996, the democratically elected government-in-exile of
Burma filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking a court order halting
Unocal's role in the Yadana pipeline and seeking compensatory and punitive
damages. On October 3, 1996, a similar additional lawsuit was filed on
behalf of victims of human rights abuses in Burma;

We believe this question deserves the careful scrutiny of our Board of
Directors and Compensation Committee.  Companies including Bristol-Myers,
Eastman Kodak, IBM, Procter and Gamble, and Westinghouse have reported to
shareholders on how they integrate these factors into their compensation
packages.

BE IT RESOLVED: Shareholders request that a committee of outside directors
of the Board institute an Executive Compensation Review, and prepare a
report available to shareholders four months after our annual shareholder
meeting with the results of the Review and recommended changes in practice.
The review shall cover pay, benefits, perks, stock options and special
arrangements in the compensation packages for all the company's top officers.

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

We recommend that the committee study and report on the following in its review:

1.   Ways to link executive compensation more closely to financial
performance with proposed criteria and formulae.

2.   Ways to link compensation to social corporate performance (e.g.
incentives given for meeting or surpassing certain social and financial
performance standards).

3.   A description of social and environmental criteria to be taken into
account. 

***************************************

FBC: KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE OIL COMPANIES
March 12, 1997 (rec?d)
Email: freeburma@xxxxxxx

FREE BURMA: NO PETRO-DOLLARS FOR SLORC
a project of the International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way
Berkeley, CA 94703
Tel: 510-848-1155
Fax: 510-848-1008
Email: freeburma@xxxxxxx
Web site: http://www.irn.org

HOW TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE OIL COMPANIES

At the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) American University meeting, many of us
discussed where to concentrate FBC's grassroots efforts. We all agreed that
pressuring the Clinton Administration to invoke the sanctions law was the
off utmost importance and timeliness. If the sanctions law is enacted, all
other corporate campaigns will either cease to exist or be given greater
strength.

Many FBC meeting participates, in addition to working on the sanctions,
also want to pressure the oil company investment in Burma. Due to that
interest, the Free Burma: No Petro-dollars for SLORC campaign, would like to
remind all of you of the existing available resources to facilitate your
work on the oil company issue, and provide some examples of the various ways
that students, grassroots activists, and others can participate in the campaign.

If there are any questions regarding this campaign, please email
freeburma@xxxxxxxx Thank you.

All the best,

Pamela Wellner, Coordinator, Free Burma: No Petro-dollars for SLORC
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Campaign materials and how to get it:

        Leaflets: Unocal, Total N. America, Texaco, (ARCO--available soon)
        Hard copies of all leaflets can be ordered from the above listed
address, at this time costs for hard               copies only include
postage. Please  provide mailing address, and quantity of leaflets.
        The leaflets can also be downloaded from the web site:
www.irn.org, please look at the bottom of the home page and click on the
Free Burma site. Graphics are available.
        Activists pack: This information pack is designed to help you work
locally on the oil company campaign.

The activist pack contains the following information:
-  Campaign information
-  Recent articles on Burma and oil company projects.
-  Background information on Burma's natural environment
-  "Report the Facts", Karen National Union report on the impacts of the
pipeline.
-  Brochures on Unocal, Texaco, and Total & boycott stickers (more may be
ordered).
-  How to: write a press release, organize a demonstration, pick protest sites,
get media attention
-  Sample letters to the CEOs of the oil companies & lists of addresses
-  Sample letter to gas station owner, & from station owner to head of company
-  Petitions to oil corporations for use with public and gas station patrons
-  Sample letters to the editor and notable quotes
-  Names and addresses of oil company boards of directors
-  Background information on Unocal's poor environmental and social record
-  Selective Purchasing Legislation information
-  Web sites on Burma

The pack, in partial form. can also be downloaded at the following web
site: <sunsite.unc.edu/freeburma>    click on "Boycott: Oil Companies.

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