BURMA/U-S BUSINESS

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=3/19/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-35977
TITLE=BURMA/U-S BUSINESS
BYLINE=AUNG HLA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
NOT VOICED:

/// ACTS AVAILABLE OUTSIDE THE ENGLISH BUBBLE ///

INTRO:  IN CALIFORNIA AND CONNECTICUT, BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED
TO PROHIBIT THE GOVERNMENTS OF THOSE STATES FROM DOING BUSINESS 
WITH COMPANIES OPERATING IN BURMA.  AS AUNG HLA OF V-O-A'S 
BURMESE SERVICE REPORTS, LEGISLATORS CONCERNED ABOUT POLITICAL 
REPRESSION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN BURMA ARE TRYING TO 
FOLLOW THE EXAMPLES OF MASSACHUSETTS AND 11 U-S CITIES WHERE 
"SELECTIVE PURCHASING LAWS" WERE APPROVED:

TEXT:  STATE REPRESENTATIVES IN CALIFORNIA AND CONNECTICUT 
INTRODUCED THEIR BILLS SHORTLY AFTER THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL 
HELD A SECOND HEARING ON A PROPOSED SELECTIVE PURCHASING BILL.

IN CALIFORNIA, REPRESENTATIVE DION ARONER, WHO INTRODUCED THE 
BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, EXPLAINS WHAT THE LEGISLATION WILL
DO IF IT BECOMES LAW:

                        // ARONER ACT //

         TRIPLE EIGHT (888) IS THE NUMBER OF THE BILL HERE IN 
         CALIFORNIA.  AND IT ALSO PROHIBITS THE STATE FROM DOING 
         BUSINESS WITH ANY ENTITY WHICH HAS ECONOMIC TIES TO 
         BURMA.  SO IT IS A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD MEASURE, LOOKS 
         VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE DID ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA MANY YEARS
         AGO WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ON 
         SOUTH AFRICA SO THAT THEY WOULD CHANGE THEIR POLITICAL 
         REGIME.

                          // END ACT //

CALIFORNIA HAS THE SEVENTH LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.  AS THE 
ANNUAL BUDGETS OF CALIFORNIA AND CONNECTICUT ARE 45 BILLION AND 
10 BILLION DOLLARS RESPECTIVELY, LEGISLATORS SPONSORING THE BILLS
SAY THEY COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT. 

JESSIE STRATTON INTRODUCED THE BILL IN THE CONNECTICUT STATE 
LEGISLATURE.  IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW, SHE SAYS IT WILL SEND A 
MESSAGE TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN BURMA:

                       // STRATTON ACT //

         NOT ONLY HAVE I GOT A VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE TO MY 
         INTRODUCING THIS BILL IN CONNECTICUT, BUT IT IS CLEAR 
         THAT CORPORATIONS ARE INDEED RESPONDING AND THAT IT IS 
         HAVING AN EFFECT.  AND THEN YOU START TO SEE MAJOR 
         GIANTS, LIKE KODAK AND HEWLETT PACKARD, PULL OUT OF 
         BURMA IN RESPONSE BOTH TO LEGISLATION LIKE WE PROPOSED 
         AND ALSO TO POLITICAL PRESSURE FROM AMERICANS, JUST 
         SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF SUPPORTING THIS.  I
         THINK THAT HAS TO BE A VERY POSITIVE MESSAGE TO THE 
         PEOPLE IN BURMA WHO ARE TRYING TO RESTORE DEMOCRACY TO 
         THEIR COUNTRY.

                          // END ACT //

THE SELECTIVE PURCHASING CAMPAIGN IN THE UNITED STATES IS 
CONTINUING -- DESPITE PROTESTS BY JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION 
THAT A SIMILAR LAW APPROVED IN MASSACHUSETTS VIOLATED WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION (W-T-O) RULES.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PETE WILSON STIRRED CONTROVERSY IN JANUARY 
WHEN HE SAID, DURING AN ASIAN TOUR, THAT SELECTIVE PURCHASING 
LAWS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  

ACTIVIST JANE JEROME IS A MEMBER OF THE (SAN FRANCISCO) BAY AREA 
BURMA ROUNDTABLE -- ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS LEADING SELECTIVE 
PURCHASING EFFORTS.  SHE SAYS THE SUPREME COURT HAS RULED THAT 
SUCH LAWS  ARE  CONSTITUTIONAL.  AND SHE DESCRIBES BURMA AS A 
SPECIAL CASE COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED 
BY SUCH LEGISLATION:

                        // JEROME ACT //

         BURMA IS AN EXCEPTION, AND EXCEPTIONAL CASES REQUIRE 
         SPECIAL EFFORT, GIVEN THAT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE FOR 
         DEMOCRACY AND OTHER DEMOCRACY SUPPORTERS HAVE CALLED FOR
         SANCTIONS, AND GIVEN THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTION IN 1990 
         WHOSE RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN UPHELD.  I CAN'T SAY THERE 
         HAVE BEEN ELECTIONS ELSEWHERE, IN INDONESIA OR IN CHINA.
         SO THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS REALLY HAVE TO BE 
         HONORED AND SLORC (BURMA'S RULING STATE LAW AND ORDER 
         RESTORATION COUNCIL) HASN'T DONE THAT.

                          // END ACT //

IF SELECTIVE PURCHASING BILLS ARE ENACTED IN CONNECTICUT AND 
CALIFORNIA, MARKETS WORTH BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WILL BE CLOSED TO 
COMPANIES THAT HAVE BUSINESS TIES TO BURMA. 

MEANWHILE, IN THE EASTERN STATE OF VERMONT, STATE LEGISLATORS 
CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN BURMA SAY THEY INTEND TO 
INTRODUCE A SIMILAR BILL. (SIGNED)

BURMESE SVC/AH/DAR/KL