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Indiana Newspaper: Meet Burmese, Re
- Subject: Indiana Newspaper: Meet Burmese, Re
- From: MSoe9872@xxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 10:57:00
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