burma/rights voa news

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=5/14/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-214261
TITLE=BURMA / RIGHTS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
 
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NEW YORK'S CITY COUNCIL PASSED LEGISLATION TODAY 
(WEDNESDAY) THAT WOULD STOP THE CITY GOVERNMENT FROM DOING 
BUSINESS WITH ANY FIRMS THAT HAVE FINANCIAL TIES TO BURMA.  
V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR NEW YORK BUREAU.

TEXT:  BURMESE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS SAY THEY SPENT 18 MONTHS 
CONVINCING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PASS THE LEGISLATION, WHICH IS
AIMED AT INCREASING PRESSURE ON BURMA'S MILITARY LEADERSHIP TO 
END ITS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND OPEN A DIALOG WITH OPPOSITION 
POLITICAL GROUPS.  THOSE EFFORTS WERE REWARDED WHEN THE CITY 
COUNCIL VOTED 50 TO ZERO IN SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION.

A REPRESENTATIVE OF BURMA'S OPPOSITION NATIONAL COALITION 
GOVERNMENT, THAUNG HTUN, WAS AMONG THE LEADING PROPONENTS OF THE 
LEGISLATION.

                       /// THAUNG HTUN ///

         I THINK ECONOMIC PRESSURE IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THIS 
         REGIME CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT GETTING MONEY FROM THE 
         FOREIGN COMPANIES.  SO IT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF
         PRESSURE TO THIS REGIME TO CONSIDER ABOUT HAVING A 
         DIALOG WITH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION.

                         /// END ACT ///

CITY OFFICIALS, APPEARING AT EARLIER CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, 
ARGUED THAT THE LEGISLATION WOULD NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT 
ON BURMA'S LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY CONCERNED 
WERE TOO SMALL.  THE LEGISLATION FOCUSES ON PROHIBITING NEW YORK 
CITY FROM ESTABLISHING CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES, AND DEPOSITING 
FUNDS IN BANKS THAT DO BUSINESS WITH BURMA.

BUT THAUNG HTUN SAYS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT, AS
IT CONCERNS MAJOR MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES, INCLUDING CITIBANK, 
AMERICAN EXPRESS, I-B-M AND TEXACO.  THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTS
THAT BURMA'S FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES HAVE BEEN DROPPING, MAKING
THE LEGISLATION POTENTIALLY MORE EFFECTIVE.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LAWRENCE WARDEN SAYS THE LEGISLATION ALSO 
SENDS AN IMPORTANT MORAL MESSAGE TO REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS AROUND
THE WORLD.

                       /// WARDEN ACT ///

         IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THIS STEP.  BECAUSE WE
         ARE SHOWING THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE OPPRESSION AMONG 
         HUMAN BEINGS, WHETHER THOSE HUMAN BEINGS ARE DENIZENS OF
         THE UNITED STATES OR CITIZENS OF OUR CITY, WE WILL NOT 
         TOLERATE IT.  IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ESTABLISH 
         THIS AND FURTHERMORE THAT WE ESTABLISH IT BY HITTING 
         PEOPLE WHERE IT HURTS THE MOST, AND THAT IS IN THE 
         POCKETBOOK.

                         /// END ACT ///

OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS COMPARED THE LEGISLATION TO THE EARLY 
STAGES OF INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA, SAYING 
THEY ARE PROUD NEW YORK IS AMONG THE FIRST AMERICAN CITIES TO 
TAKE SUCH ACTION.  SIMILAR LEGISLATION ON BURMA IS BEING 
CONSIDERED IN TEXAS AND CONNECTICUT.

THE LEGISLATION WILL TAKE EFFECT IN 45 DAYS, PENDING APPROVAL BY 
THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/LWM