Update on NW Airlines Promoting Her (r)

[dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Re: Update on NW Airlines Promoting Heroin Hotel

Rick Dow
Northwest Airlines
Dept. A 6810
5101 Northwest Drive
St. Paul, MN  55111-3034



On 21 Feb 1997 tlandon@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Subject: Re: Update on NW Airlines Promoting Heroin Hotel
> 
> Larry, 
> 
> Can you please post the address of Rick Dow
> Thanks
> 
> 
> On Thu, 20 Feb 1997 dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> 
> > From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Update on NW Airlines Promoting Heroin Hotel
> > 
> > 
> > It has been three months since activists first contacted Northwest
> > regarding their promotion of the Traders Hotel in Rangoon (see original
> > news release below).  How much heroin has Traders' owner Lo Hsing Han
> > shipped around the world in those three months while Northwest has mouthed
> > "We'll take it into consideration"?
> > 
> > Please contact head of International Worldperks Marketing Mr. Rick Dow and
> > tell him how you feel about a US company with a pro-druglord policy.
> > 
> > His fax is 612-726-0343, and phone is 612-727-6465.
> > 
> > If you write a letter, please cc your local newspaper, then send it along
> > to them.
> > 
> > LD
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Seattle Campaign for a Free Burma
> > > 2319 N. 45th St., Suite 115  Seattle, WA 98103  Ph: (206) 784-5742  
> > > Fax:(206) 784-8150
> > > P a r t   o f   t h e   F r e e   B u r m a   C o a l i t i o n
> > > 
> > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
> > > 
> > > BONUS MILES AT "HEROIN HOTEL"
> > > NORTHWEST PROMOTES HOTEL OWNED BY BURMESE DRUG LORDS
> > > 
> > > MINNEAPOLIS--JANUARY 14, 1997--Northwest Airlines is offering its frequent 
> > > fliers bonus miles if they stay in the Traders Hotel of Rangoon, according
> > > to its December "WorldPerks Update."  The Christian Science Monitor said
> > > on November 20 that the Traders Hotel is "a dark reminder of the power and 
> > > influence exercised by (Burma's) drug lords."
> > > 
> > > The Traders Hotel is co-owned by Steven Law and his father Lo Hsing Han.
> > > Lo is a reputed heroin trafficker known as the "King of the Golden Triangle."
> > > In August, Law was barred from the US by the State Department due to
> > > suspicion of his involvement in the narcotics trade.  Burma produces more 
> > > opium and heroin than the rest of the world combined, and State Department
> > > sources say 60% of the heroin on US streets comes from Burma.
> > > 
> > > "It's simple.  When the US Government says Steven Law is involved in
> > > heroin trafficking, US companies shouldn't promote Steven Law's hotel"
> > > says Dan Orzech of the US-based Free Burma Coalition.
> > > 
> > > Northwest doesn't deny that Law and Lo are co-owners of Traders Hotel
> > > Rangoon.  It acknowledges reports that Law is barred from the US, but it has not
> > > ended the promotion, according to a company spokesman.
> > > 
> > > Robert Gelbard, US Assistant Secretary of State for International
> > > Narcotics Affairs wrote in the November 21 Far Eastern Economic Review that 
> > > Burma's military junta "has brazenly exploited drug-trafficking money" to 
> > > stay in power.  The drug lords are "buying real estate in Rangoon and
> > > Mandalay, investing in Burma's economy, and openly courting military
> > > officials."
> > > 
> > > "That the Burmese economy is based on narco-dollars is quite obvious" says
> > > Dr. Sein Win, head of the NCGUB, BurmaÕs democratic government in exile.
> > > "Burmese citizens weren't even allowed to possess foreign currency for the 
> > > past 30 years.  Now all of a sudden, you find local investors coming up
> > > with millions of dollars for projects like the Traders Hotel.  It does not
> > > come as a surprise that these investors are either notorious drug
> > > kingpins, like Lo Hsing Han and Khun Sa, or their close associates."
> > > 
> > > One US company, Wente Vineyards of California, was successfully targeted
> > > by boycotters over connections to Steven Law.  Numerous other companies,
> > > including Motorola, Amoco, Eddie Bauer, Heineken and Carlsberg have
> > > withdrawn from Burma under consumer pressure, citing corruption, human
> > > rights concerns and "business reasons."
> > > 
> > > "US interests are clear.  We need to fight the Burmese narco-dictatorship"
> > > says Orzech.  "We don't want a boycott of Northwest Airlines, but we do
> > > want them to do the right thing.  Don't promote the 'Heroin Hotel'" he
> > > warns.
> > > 
> > > Contact:  Larry Dohrs, Free Burma Coalition, 206-784-5742
> > > Dr. Sein Win, National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma
> > > 202-393-7342
> > > Vinita Koshal, Northwest Airlines, International WorldPerks Marketing 
> > > 612-726-2111 		
> > > 
> > > END
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