Urgent Senatorial Action: McConnell

[jjerome@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Action Alert and Sample Letter

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) co-sponsored sanction laws against 
South Africa.  He is now introducing legislation against the illegal 
regime ruling Burma (Myanmar), the State Law and Order 
Restoration Council (SLORC).  The bill will announced on July 12th 
and introduced in a hearing on July 25.  All U.S. Senators need our 
encouragement on this bill.  
 
The bill calls for economic sanctions against SLORC, similar to the 
U.S. stance on Cuba.  This is an easy way to stop that pipeline*, so get 
your letters (AND PHONE AND FAX MESSAGES) out
ASAP!  
 

In California, send letters to Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein.  
Please take the time to get these in the mail.  The more original and 
numerous the better!!

Senator Diane Feinstein		Senator Barbara Boxer
Hart Senate Office Building		Hart Senate Office Building
Washington D.C.  20510-0504	Washington D.C.  20510-0501
ph:	202/224-3841		202/224-3553
ph:	415/249-4777		415/403-0100

_______________________________________________

* For those not familiar with the situation in Burma,  a gas pipeline 
is being built across a narrow stretch of Burma from the offshore 
fields in the Andaman Sea to Thailand, where it will be used for the 
Thai power grid.   Unocal of California and Total of France are 
partners in this project with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise 
(MOGE), SLORC's energy department.  Construction of the pipeline and 
an accompanying infrastructure is involving the forced relocation of 
many thousands of Tavoy, Mon and Karen villagers.  Its construction 
also raises serious concerns about environmental destruction, 
according to Greenpeace and the Rainforest Action Network.  

The railway that will intersect the pipeline is being built with the 
forced and unpaid labour -- virtual slavery -- of hundreds of 
thousands of villagers.  The railroad is being called the "New Death 
Railway", since many have already died of the appalling work 
conditions.  

Virgin tropical forests will be clearcut to accommodate the pipeline.  
The Andaman Sea's delicate  environmental health is also of concern.  
The fisheries have already been adversely impacted by extensive gill-
netting and coral reef explosions, both permitted by SLORC.  The 
pipeline will result in significant environmental damage, both on-and 
offshore.  

Texaco is also planning a pipeline to carry the gas from its offshore 
field into Thailand in partnership with Nippon Oil of Japan and 
Premier Oil of the United Kingdom.
 

Senator ...
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
 
Dear Senator...
 
I understand from an announcement made July 12th by Senator Mitch 
McConnell that he is introducing legislation on July 25th which will 
impact foreign investment and the illegal military junta ruling 
Burma, known as the "State Law and Order Restoration Council" 
(SLORC).  I and other Burma activists in California urge your support 
for this important legislation.  

Despite the long overdue release of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung 
San Suu Kyi, following six years of house arrest, democracy and 
respect for human rights are far from being respected by SLORC.  
Forced labor, relocation, torture and detention for peaceful 
expression of views are widespread and SLORC has conducted a 
campaign of terror against ethnic and religious minorities since 
seizing power.   Aung San Suu Kyi has herself called for sanctions 
against SLORC, and not simply on her own behalf.  Economic incentives 
have, in South Africa, moved an oppressive regime to respect the will 
and the rights of the nation's people.  Senator McConnell's legislation 
will serve to hasten the restoration of basic freedoms to the people of 
Burma.  

The military leaders maintain leadership due to several factors:  
economic investment from transnational corporations including US 
companies Unocal,Texaco, and Pepsico; infusions of armaments from 
China, which seeks access to the Indian Ocean at the Straights of 
Malacca, its strategic objective; and cash from the SLORC's share 
from the safe transport of heroin from Shan Province and elsewhere 
for export to the U.S. market.  In March of this year, Assistant 
Secretary of State Winston Lord stated before the Senate Foreign 
Operations Subcommittee that "the main impediment to narcotics 
reduction in Burma is the government."

It is imperative that cash flow to SLORC be stopped.  McConnell's 
legislation would cause multinationals to choose between trade with 
the U.S. or trade with SLORC.  Without the massive cash influxes of 
foreign investment to SLORC's coffers, the regime can not stay in 
power long.  Several U.S. companies, including Eddie Bauer, Levi 
Strauss, and Amoco have divested, citing egregious human rights 
violations.  It is interesting to note that SLORC released Aung San Suu 
Kyi only hours before McConnell planned to introduce his legislation, 
thereby demonstrating that the mere threat of economic sanctions 
could effectively sway the military rulers.  
 
Please use your power to send a strong message to the military leaders 
in Rangoon by supporting this legislation, hopefully through your co-
sponsorship and supporting vote.  Your staff will be able to obtain 
copies of Senator McConnell's legislation for your review.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
PLEASE CROSS-POST THIS MESSAGE, ADAPTING IT TO LOCAL NEEDS 
AS NECESSARY. DISTRIBUTE IT TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND NETWORKS 
BY EMAIL, FAX NET, MAIL, CARRIER PIGEON AND BY ANY OTHER 
MEANS, EVEN BY HAND. NOTE THAT THE BILL WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON 
JULY 12 AND INTRODUCED ON THE JULY 25.  


The author's thanks to Tim Landon for this sample letter's framework:  
a well-structured outline, massively revised in view of recent events 
and local needs.   
**********************************************