BURMA SANCTIONS UPDATE: 7/12/96

[simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

LAST CHANCE TO LOBBY FOR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON BURMA

Thursday, July 12, 1996

When you call your Senators, you may find it helpful to mention that the
Burma sanctions amendment (section 569) is in the 3540: the "Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997"

Since the Senate will be out of session on Friday, July 12 through Monday,
July 15, we have two business days to call and fax our Senators.

It is expected that HR.3540 will come up for debate and a vote on Tuesday,
July 12 AT THE EARLIEST.

Call your Senator every day. Express your support for the economic sanctions
on Burma outlined in section 569. Ask them:

1. Has the HR.3540 has come to a vote?
2. Did the Senator support the sanctions on Burma contained in section 569?

WHY THIS BILL IS SO IMPORTANT

The mandatory sanctions provisions of the "Burma Freedom and Democracy Act"
(S.1511) have been incorporated into HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations,
Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997" as an
amendment (section 569).

This is our only chance right now to press for economic sanctions on Burma.
We have to give the amendment our top priority over the next two days!

There will be an attempt to remove or weaken the amendment on the Senate
floor early next week. As I write, the oil industry's high-priced lobbyists
are working feverishly to defeat the amendment. We need to overwhelm the
lobbyists with a wave of phone calls and faxes from constituents.

CALL YOUR SENATORS TOLL-FREE AT (800) 972-3524

1. Ask for the staff person responsible for foreign policy issues. 

2. Stress that you want your Senator to support the economic sanctions on
Burma contained in Section 569 of HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997"

3. If you can follow up your phone call with a faxed letter.

4. Ask your friends, family and co-workers to call too.

MAKE SURE YOU CALL BY 5PM, MONDAY, JULY 15!!
-----------------------

Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
(617) 423 6655 x 225
(617) 482 6179 fax
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx
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H.R.3540
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 1997 (Reported in the Senate) 

SECTION 569

LIMITATION ON FUNDS FOR BURMA 

     SEC. 569. Until such time as the President determines and certifies
to the Committees on Appropriations that an elected government of Burma has
been allowed to take office, the following sanctions shall be imposed on
Burma :

          (1) No national of the United States shall make any investment
in Burma;
          (2) United States assistance to Burma is prohibited;
          (3) The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States
executive director of each international financial institution to vote
against any loan
or other utilization of the funds of the respective bank to or for Burma ;
and
          (4) Except as required by Treaty obligations, any Burmese national
who formulates, implements, or benefits from policies which hinder the
transition of Burma to a democratic country shall be ineligible to receive a
visa and shall be excluded from admission to the United States.
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For your interest, HR.3540: the "Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1997" also contains the following
language on Burma:

BURMA 

     Of the funds appropriated by this Act to carry out the provisions of
chapter 8 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961, not less than $2,500,000 shall be made available to support activities
in Burma , along the Burma -Thailand border, and for activities of Burmese
student groups and other organizations located outside Burma , for the
purposes of fostering democracy in Burma , supporting the provision of
medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance to Burmese located in
Burma or displaced Burmese along the borders, and for other purposes:
Provided, That of this amount, not less than $200,000 shall be made available
to support newspapers, publications, and other media activities promoting
democracy inside Burma:

Provided further, That funds made available under this heading may be
made available notwithstanding any other provision of law: Provided further,
That provision of such funds shall be made available subject to the regular
notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.
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