EBO Burma News, 2 May 2003
News Summary:
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1. Powell hits out at "despotic"
2. Students stop eating to protest
sweatshops
3. KUONI TRAVEL PULLS OUT OF
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Powell hits out at
"despotic"
Wednesday condemned
tough task to "crack the will" of its
military regime.
Powell told a Senate committee he would
work with US allies in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) to apply pressure to the junta
in
Suu Kyi.
He said he will discuss the situation in
regional security meetings in the Cambodian
capital
June.
"It is a despotic regime and we
condemn its policies, and we condemn the
manner in which they have kept Aung San Suu Kyi
away from the political
process and participation in civil society and
civil life.
Aung San Suu Kyi is the
junta released from house arrest last May.
"It has been difficult to find a
solution to crack the will of this ruling
regime. We must continue to work within the UN
framework, continuing to work
with our Asian partners," Powell said.
The Secretary of State was asked by
Senator Mitch McConnell of
staunch supporter of
really cared about pressing
"They do, but they're at a loss also
as to what to do... they have not yet
generated the collective political will to apply
the kind of pressure that
might change the nature of this regime or the
regime itself," Powell said.
The
political sanctions against
of "constructive engagement"
staying faithful to their creed of
non-interference in one another's internal affairs.
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Students stop eating to protest
sweatshops
By JOSH WEIR
But she is hanging in there.
The
participating in a hunger strike to protest
Holloway Sportswear, which “does business
in
the land has long been known as a haven for
sweatshops and unfair labor
practices.
In fact, the American Apparel and Footwear
Association has recommended
that American businesses stay out of
rights and labor laws,
said Cutlip. Big-name companies such as Nike and
Wal-Mart have pulled out of the country
altogether.
Joining Cutlip
in the protest is junior Rachel Wacker, a graduate of
Democracies. The group hopes to ensure that apparel
sold on campus is not
made in sweatshops.
The group’s actions have been effective,
according to Cutlip. University
officials have discussed the issue recently with
the group, ending nearly
eight months of silence. But no serious
negotiations have taken place.
Student response has been positive. The
group, which has protesters in the
Buchtel Commons each day, has asked students to
wear orange clothing as a
show of solidarity.
Cutlip said she is doing OK physically, but
feels more tired each day the
hunger strike lingers.
“I’m winding down ... .
I stopped driving my car on the second day.”
----------------------------------
Press release
Friends of the Earth
KUONI TRAVEL PULLS OUT OF
pull out of
follows pressure from The Burma Campaign
increases pressure on those
regime, such as Orient Express and British
American Tobacco.
is the subject of a tourist boycott following
calls by Aung San Suu Kyi, leader
of
the Burmese generals with an important source
of foreign currency. Slave labour
has reportedly been used to build tourist
infrastructure.
Friends of the Earth Corporate
Accountability Campaigner Craig Bennett said:
"Any company operating in
It's great that Kuoni has pulled out, but they leave behind BAT and Orient
Express
flying the flag for corporate
irresponsibility.
"Surely, it's about time
Patricia Hewitt changed UK company law to make UK plc behave?
Profits must stop coming before
people and the environment."
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.foe.co.uk
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With many thanks,
Euro-Burma Office
Square Gutenberg 11/2
1000
tel: 32 02 280 0691/280 2452
fax:
32 02 280 0310
e-mail:
[email protected]