Berkeley City Council Adopts First

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

Subject: Berkeley City Council Adopts First Selective Purchasing  Legislation To Support Tibet

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Berkeley City Council Adopts First Selective Purchasing Legislation
To Support Tibet
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For Immediate Release         Contact Information:
June 4, 1997                  Janice Mantell, ICLT Executive Director
                              Robert J. Rosoff, Esq., ICLT Legal Director
                              Tel: (510) 486-0588 / Fax: (510) 548-3785


Berkeley, June 4 1997:   In last night's session, the Berkeley, California
City Council passed legislation that prohibits Berkeley from doing business
with companies and individuals involved in Tibet.  Through economic pressure,
the legislation is intended to promote self-determination for Tibet, and to
end human rights abuse by the Chinese government.  It is the first Tibetan
"selective purchasing" legislation in the world, and an important step toward
self-determination for the Tibetan people.

The legislation was drafted by the International Committee of Lawyers for
Tibet (ICLT), a non-profit organization based in Berkeley.  It was by
sponsored by Berkeley Council Members Dona Spring and Kriss Worthington. The
legislation provides that Berkeley will not (1) purchase commodities produced
in Tibet, or (2) enter into contracts with companies or individuals doing
business in Tibet.  The Tibetan Government-In-Exile has stated that
development in Tibet should be small-scale, decentralized initiatives
controlled by Tibetans.  Projects that benefit Tibet can still be approved by
the Tibetan Government-In-Exile.

"This is historic legislation," stated Robert J. Rosoff, Esq., ICLT Legal
Director.  "Over one million Tibetans have died as a result of nearly 50
years of Chinese occupation, and Tibetans continue to be imprisoned and
sometimes tortured for advocating self-determination. This legislation is a
powerful way for citizens to promote human rights through responsible
business practices."  The Berkeley legislation is the start of a nation-wide
campaign by ICLT to pass similar legislation throughout the United States.

Selective purchasing legislation first became popular in the United States
during the 1970's and helped to end apartheid in South Africa.  It is
currently being used, on federal, state, and local levels, in the U.S. to
promote democracy in Burma.

This legislation was passed one week before His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the
spiritual and political leader of Tibet and a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate,
arrives in the Bay Area.  He will attend a Peacemaking Conference, and speak
at a benefit dinner hosted by ICLT on June 11th at the Sheraton Palace Hotel
in San Francisco.
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INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF LAWYERS FOR TIBET
2288 Fulton Street, Suite 312, Berkeley, CA 94704
Tel: (510) 486-0588 / Fax: (510) 548-3785 / e-mail: iclt@xxxxxxx