New York Mayor Signs Burma Sanction

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

Subject: New York Mayor Signs Burma Sanctions Law

                       New York Burma Support Group

            Friday, May 30, 1997	for immediate release
  
        	NEW YORK CITY MAYOR SIGNS BURMA SANCTIONS

  --CITES "A SITUATION BEYOND WHAT THE HUMAN CONSCIENCE CAN TOLERATE"--

      SANCTIONS LAWS SPREADING--CONNECTICUT BILL ALSO NOW PENDING

Saying "horrible and tragic" conditions in Burma were "a situation beyond
what the human conscience can tolerate," New York City Hall Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani today signed legislation barring companies doing business in
Burma from doing business with the City of New York. The measure, Bill
#647A, was passed by a unanimous 50 - 0 vote of the New York City Council
on May 14, and with the Mayor's signature, will take effect in thirty
days.

The Mayor challenged the business community, which claimed the measure
will damage New York City's economy, to support open economies and free
governments around the world, saying these will ultimately benefit the
people of New York most. "We want to see major changes in Burma," the
Mayor said during the Friday afternoon hearing in New York City Hall's
Blue Room, "Then we can have open exchange."

New York City has the fourth largest governmental budget in the US, after
the federal government and the states of California and New York. 

The Mayor signed the act after hearing City Council Speaker Peter Vallone,
Council Members Mary Pinkett, Thomas Duane, and John Sabini and several
other speakers describe the Burmese military dictatorship's responsibility
for severe human rights abuses and ecological devastation in Burma, and
its links to heroin warlords who supply about 60% of the new wave of
heroin now plaguing New York City. 

According to City Council Member Mary Pinkett of Brooklyn, the Mayor's
decision to sign the bill sent an important message that freedom belongs
to everyone. "We hope this will also push the US government to speak
louder and more clearly and to do more to press for democracy in Burma,"
she said.

May Pyong Maung, a Burmese exile representative of the Union of Burmese
Women, who also testified before the Mayor, said, "This will hurt the
dictatorship and encourage democratic forces in Burma who are under severe
pressure right now." Reports from Rangoon say 316 pro-democracy activists
have been arrested in Burma since mid-May by agents of the State Law and
Order Restoration Council (SLORC) army junta.

The state of Massachusetts and a dozen other US municipalities have
already passed selective purchasing laws. A similar measure is now pending
in Connecticut's State Legislature. US federal sanctions now bar any new
investment by American companies in Burma. The local laws may have more
immediate impact, however, by preventing companies doing any kind of
business in Burma from receiving local contracts. Apple Computer, Motorola
and Kodak are among companies that have pulled out of Burma in response to
selective purchasing laws enacted in the pat year.

UNOCAL, the California-based petrochemical giant partner to the SLORC
junta in a billion dollar gas pipeline project associated with serious
human rights abuses, has mounted a major lobbying campaign against Burma
sanctions. They have been represented in New York by the firm of Davidoff
and Malito.

Unocal and Texaco are today targets of consumer boycotts because of their
business in Burma. Other companies have already pulled out of Burma or
announced they will not do business there, including Pepsi-Cola, Heineken,
Columbia Sportswear, Macy's (Federated Dept. Stores), Amoco, Levi-Strauss,
Reebok, Eddie Bauer and Liz Claiborne.

For further information, please contact :
New York City:	NYC Mayor's Office   212-788-2958
		Burma UN Office 212-338-0048 
		New York City Council 212-788-6948
		New York Burma Support Group  Thomas Lansner 212-787-3756
Connecticut:  	State Assembly Representative Jessie Stratton 860-240-0440
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