PepsiCo withdraws completely from B (r)

[cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: PepsiCo withdraws completely from Burma (fwd)

dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 

and thanks for sharing the good news, great news rather. we have to go
the xtra with the press on this, i will be sending it out to radio and
press here



cd
> From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: PepsiCo withdraws completely from Burma (fwd)
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 8:37:43 PST
> From: Reuters <C-reuters@xxxxxxxxx>
> Newsgroups: clari.biz.industry.food, clari.world.asia.indochina.misc,
>     clari.biz.top, clari.world.asia.indochina
> Subject: PepsiCo withdraws completely from Burma
> 
> 
>          BANGKOK (Reuter) - U.S. soft drink giant PepsiCo Inc, which
> sold its stake in a Burmese venture last year following pressure
> from human rights groups, has pulled out of the country, a
> spokesman said Tuesday.
>          A PepsiCo spokesman in New York said the company had severed
> ties with its bottler in Rangoon. ``We did indicate plans to
> discontinue all sales of our products there,'' he said.
>          Last April Pepsi sold its 40 percent stake in a venture with
> Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar, following increased lobbying by
> pressure groups in the United States.
>          But the company stll had an exclusive five-year agreement
> with its former franchise bottler, Pepsi Cola Products Myanmar,
> which was making four different Pepsi soft drinks.
>          Thein Tun, chairman of the Burmese company, was not
> available for comment Tuesday. But after the initial pullout
> last year he said he had a firm bottling arrangement deal with
> Pepsi to continue to supply syrup to make the drinks in Burma.
>          The final pullout comes after repeated calls by Burmese
> democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi for global companies to desist
> from investing in Burma until the political and human rights
> situation improves.
>          Pressure groups and Suu Kyi have accused Burma's military
> government, which took power in 1988 after violently suppressing
> pro-democracy protests, of human rights abuses.
>          The United States Senate passed a bill last year allowing
> President Clinton to impose economic sanctions on Burma if the
> political situation deteriorates.
>          A statement issued by the Free Burma Coalition said the
> Pepsi decision, which went into effect on January 15, was a key
> step toward drawing attention to the plight of Burma.
>          ``The Pepsi victory will be a major morale booster for the
> forces of democracy inside Burma fighting under the leadership
> of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy,''
> Free Burma Coalition Coordinator Zarni (one name) said.
>          Several major companies including Oshkosh B'Gosh Inc, Liz
> Clairborne, Eddie Bauer and beermakers Heineken NV and Carlsberg
> have pulled out of investments or stopped sourcing products from
> Burma since last year.
>          Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy Party won a
> landslide victory in a 1990 election but the ruling State Law
> and Order Restoration Council never accepted the results.
>