ARCO Sale a Partial Victory

[dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

> 
> FREE BURMA COALITION
> 225 North Mills Street, The University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
> Phone (608)-827-7734  Fax: (608)-263-9992
> 
> 
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
> 
> ARCO DUMPS 39% SHARE OF BURMA PROJECT
> DEMOCRACY ADVOCATES SEE A STEP TOWARD TOTAL WITHDRAWAL
> 
> Los Angeles, Nov. 18, 1997 -- The decision on November 13 by oil giant
> ARCO to sell a share of its investment in Burma is seen by pro-democracy
> activists as a first step toward total withdrawal from activities in the
> military-run pariah state. 
> 
> "Every journey begins with a first step," says Ali Ahmed, a leader of
> the Burmese exile community in Los Angeles. "This is the first step
> toward ARCO cutting all ties with the Burmese narco-dictatorship." 
> 
> ARCO has been the object of a relentless campaign of demonstrations and
> leafleting, which highlight President Clinton's ban on new investment in
> Burma, a decision made in April for reasons of national security. 
> Secretary of State Albright has criticized Burmese military complicity in
> the heroin trade, and said that drug money is even laundered through
> "joint ventures with foreign firms." 
> 
> A coalition of Burmese exiles, labor, campus and community groups have
> held weekly demonstrations outside ARCO's headquarters.  Demonstrators
> have also attended ARCO-sponsored high school football games, with banners
> reading "nArco in Burma = Heroin in the US."  The State Department reports
> that 60% of the heroin on US streets comes from Burma. 
> 
> "It can't get much clearer for ARCO," says Kevin Rudiger, a spokesman
> for the LA Burma Forum. "Our government says new investment in Burma
> harms our national interest.  Our government says Burma's junta 
> tolerates and benefits from heroin exports to the US.  Our government
> denounces Burmese repression, but ARCO executives wine and dine the very
> generals responsible.  Whose side are they on?" 
> 
> Many foreign investors have withdrawn from Burma, including Amoco,
> PepsiCo, Heineken, Levi-Strauss, Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne, Disney and
> others.  Most recently, Texaco announced it would leave Burma by the end
> of the year.  ARCO and Unocal are the only well-known US companies
> remaining. 
> 
> The Burmese economy is reportedly on the verge of collapse.  Burma's
> democracy movement has long called for investors to stay away until
> democracy is achieved.  International and internal pressure is increasing
> on the junta to open dialogue with Burma's overwhelmingly popular
> democrats, headed by Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 
> 
> 										
> END
> 
> Contact:  Kevin Rudiger, Los Angeles Burma Forum, 310-399-0703                                                                                                               
>           Ali Ahmed, Los Angeles Burma Forum, 562-602-4407
> 
> 
>