[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Indiana Newspaper: Meet Burmese, Re



Subject: Indiana Newspaper: Meet Burmese, Rep.Souder

Meet Burmese, Rep. Souder 

Fort Wayne's Burmese community - 600 strong and growing - wants Indiana 
officials to tell the U.S. Supreme Court to OK a controversial Massachusetts 
law that undermines the military dictatorship in Burma. If the law is found 
constitutional, Massachusetts state government won't buy anything from 
companies that do business with Burma. But what's really needed here is a 
federal law that swings the whole United States against corporate support for 
the Burmese dictators. It would be the same kind of stand that helped bring 
down the racist government of South Africa. And who better to lead such a 
campaign than the 4th District's congressman, Mark Souder? Local Burmese say 
there are more of their refugee compatriots here than anywhere else in the 
United States. Souder is sympathetic to their human rights concerns, but he 
hasn't met yet with such an important group of human rights champions in his 
own backyard. That's a situation he ought to change as soon as possible. The 
other important factor here is the illegal drug trade. Souder's one of the 
most prominent members of Congress in the effort to stop the flow of 
narcotics into the United States, especially from Latin America. Yet Burma, 
too, is a major source of heroin. And local Burmese say at least one major 
drug lord there is protected by the Burmese junta. Souder can score a triple 
play here - promote human rights, attack the dirty drug trade and boost his 
political standing both locally and abroad. And he can demonstrate to a large 
group of immigrants - and future 4th District voters - that the American 
system of government is for them, too. 

PUBLISHED: SATURDAY DECEMBER 18, 1999