BURMA SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=5/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-215054
TITLE=BURMA SANCTIONS  (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK FRIDAY SIGNED INTO LAW LEGISLATION 
RESTRICTING THE CITY FROM DOING BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT HAVE
TRADE TIES WITH BURMA.  V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK 
ON SANCTIONS INTENDED TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON THE BURMESE 
MILITARY LEADERSHIP TO CARRY OUT DEMOCRATIC REFORMS.

TEXT:  CITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT EXPECT THE SANCTIONS TO 
HAVE A MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT ON BURMA.  BUT THEY SAY IT IS AN 
IMPORTANT GESTURE, WHICH THEY HOPE OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE 
UNITED STATES WILL FOLLOW.  MAYOR RUDOLPH GIULIANI SIGNED THE 
BILL AFTER THE CITY COUNCIL GAVE IT UNANIMOUS APPROVAL, FOLLOWING
A YEAR OF HEARINGS AND DEBATE.

                      /// GIULIANI ACT ///

         THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT NEW YORK HAS TO SEND A 
         SIGNAL TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, EVEN TO THE NATIONAL 
         GOVERNMENT, AND TO THE PEOPLE IN BURMA WHO ARE OPPRESSED
         THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING
         THROUGH, THAT WE STAND WITH THEM AND THAT WE WANT TO SEE
         MAJOR CHANGES IN BURMA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND AS SOON 
         AS WE SEE THOSE CHANGES, THERE WILL BE OPEN 
         RELATIONSHIPS, ECONOMIC AND OTHERWISE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. GIULIANI SAYS SANCTIONS ARE DIFFICULT AND NOT ALWAYS 
SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING ABOUT CHANGE.  BUT HE SAYS HE BELIEVES 
THEY ARE JUSTIFIED IN THE CASE OF BURMA, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE 
DESCRIBES AS ITS TERRIBLE AND TRAGIC HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

SEVERAL BUSINESS GROUPS OPPOSED THE LEGISLATION, DESCRIBING IT AS
INEFFECTIVE AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.  THEY SAID IT WOULD DO MORE TO
HARM NEW YORK'S OWN BUSINESS INTERESTS THAN IT WOULD TO INFLUENCE
THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT.  EVANGELINE BINDER, FROM THE NEW YORK 
CITY PARTNERSHIP AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE 
LEGISLATION SHORTLY BEFORE THE MAYOR SIGNED IT.

                       /// BINDER ACT ///

         IT PENALIZES BUSINESS RATHER THAN ACHIEVING ITS INTENDED
         GOAL OF ADVANCING BURMESE DEMOCRACY.  MORE 
         SIGNIFICANTLY, IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT ON LOCAL 
         ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY SENDING A MESSAGE THAT NEW YORK 
         CITY IS NOT A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE LEGISLATION WAS SUPPORTED BY LOCAL ACADEMICS AND BURMESE 
ACTIVIST GROUPS.  TOM LANSNER, AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA 
UNIVERSITY, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PRESSING THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO 
PASS THE LEGISLATION.  HE TOLD MAYOR GIULIANI THAT BURMA IS NOT 
ONLY SUPPRESSING ITS OWN PEOPLE, BUT IS ALSO A LEADING EXPORTER 
OF HEROIN TO THE UNITED STATES.

                       /// LANSNER ACT ///

         BURMESE HEROIN IS NOW FLOODING NEW YORK CITY, AS YOU 
         HAVE HEARD.  IT IS CREATING A PLAGUE OF DRUG ADDICTION 
         RIGHT ON THE STREETS OUTSIDE, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE 
         UPPER WEST SIDE, AND IT THREATENS TO UNDERCUT YOUR 
         SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE CRIME RATE AND TO 
         IMPROVE THE CITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE LEGISLATION WILL TAKE EFFECT AFTER A 30-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE 
WAITING PERIOD.  (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/MPR/LSF