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New England Burma Roundtable / Augu



Subject: New England Burma Roundtable / August 97

New England Burma Roundtable / August 97

August 1
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1.  Vigil and Rally, August 8, 6.30pm on Boston Common
2.  Next Burma Roundtable - Tuesday, August 12
3.  News Update: Japan Follows the Lead of the European Commission by
Taking the Massachusetts Burma Law to the World Trade Organization
4.  Keep the Pressure On! How to Defend the Massachusetts Burma Law
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1. Vigil and Rally, August 8, 6:30pm

August 8, 1997 Vigil to commemorate those who were killed in the 8-8-88
massacre in Burma.  The vigil will begin at 6:30pm on the Boston Common
close to the steps leading to the State House. Invited speakers include
state representative Byron Rushing, Quincy city counselor Paul Harold, and
a member of the democratically elected, National Coalition Government of
the Union of Burma (NCGUB).  If you get lost, just follow the Burmese
music.  For more details contact Ko Lay at 617-388-0038.

2. August Roundtable Meeting: Tuesday, August 12, 6:30pm

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 130 Prospect Street, Cambridge.
Take the Redline to Central Square T stop, or the Number 1 bus. The UUSC
office is on the corner of Prospect and Harvard streets, a 2-block walk
from Central Square. Use the buzzer outside the front door to gain entry
into the building; take the elevator to the first floor.

We will show a videotape of a British TV documentary?s undercover story in
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) controlled factories.
Included is an interview with a SLORC general in which he admits to SLORC
control of apparel factories and gives economic reasons why foreign
investors would choose the military-run option.  Katie Redford of
Earthrights International is also interviewed. Following the original
broadcast of the show, the Burton Group made the decision to stop buying
clothes made in Burmese factories.  

3.  News Update: Japan Follows the Lead of the European Commission by
Taking the Massachusetts Burma Law to the World Trade Organization

The European Commission and Japan are moving forward with their formal
complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the Massachusetts
Burma selective purchasing law. On July 22, the European Union and Japan
conducted their first "formal consultations" with the United States under
the WTO dispute settlement procedures. Under WTO rules, an aggrieved party
must undertake three rounds of formal consultations before requesting that
a dispute panel be convened.

Modeled after similar South Africa statutes, the Massachusetts Burma
selective purchasing effectively bars the Massachusetts state government
from buying goods or services from companies that do business in Burma.

In Massachusetts, we have generated scores of letters to our elected
representatives and officials. This is already encouraging them to stand
firm and defend the Burma law. Attorney General Scott Harshbarger told
Reuters of his firm support for the Massachusetts Burma law.

In Washington, 9 members of the Massachusetts House delegation wrote to US
Trade Representative (USTR) Charlene Barshefsky to urge her to strongly
oppose the pressure from the European Commission and Japan. A coalition of
human rights, environmental, labor and consumer organizations plan to send
a similar letter. This pressure is starting to work USTR spokesman, Jay
Ziegler, recently criticized the European Union, stating that by taking the
Massachusetts Burma law to the World Trade Organization, the European Union
was undermining its own principled stand against the Burmese military junta.

4.  Keep the Pressure On!

You will shortly receive a new August action alert for Massachusetts
residents and people from out-of-state. If you have already written, please
distribute the action alerts to your friends, family and coworkers. Let?s
keep up the heat on this summer! For the latest news, contact Simon
Billenness at the address below.

GET INVOLVED LOCALLY!: One excellent way to support the Massachusetts Burma
law is to enact similar Burma selective purchasing in your home town. If
you live in the cities listed below, get active in local efforts to enact a
city-wide Burma ordinance. If you town is not listed, call and find out how
you can start a campaign.

Quincy: Helen Poland (617-773-0261; Email: hpoland@xxxxxxx) 
Newton: Ken Parker (617-965-3723: Email: kkparker@xxxxxxx)
Brookline: Chris Stearns (617- 232-7121)

For more information on how to enact a municipal Burma law, contact Simon
Billenness at the address below.

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
c/o Franklin Research & Development Corporation / 711 Atlantic Avenue /
Boston MA 02111
phone: 617-423-6655, extension 225 / Email: sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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