Keep Writing President Clinton!

[simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

KEEP WRITING PRESIDENT CLINTON!

October 14, 1996

The word from Washington is that President Clinton is not expected to ban
new US investment in Burma before the elections. Simply put, the President
wants to coast towards the election without making any changes to foreign
policy.

However, the worst mistake we could make right now is to stop sending
letters. Each letter or petition that the President makes it more likely
that the Administration will impose economic sanctions once the election is
over. Each letter will:

1. Impress on the Adminstration that there is grassroots political support
for sanctions
2. Empower those within the Administration who support sanctions on Burma
3. Make it more likely that the Administration will act quickly in response
to any further crackdown on the Burmese democracy movement
4. Encourage your US senators and representatives to support sanctions on
Burma (provided you send them a copy of your letter to Clinton)
5. Help neutralize pressure from the oil companies not to impose sanctions

AND, of course, if yu have already written yourself, ask a friend, co-worker
or family member to write too.

SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR LETTER

If possible, send your letter using Express Mail, FedEx or another
guaranteed two-day or overnight service.  It gives your letter more impact.

A personal letter has more impact than a phone call, postcard or email=
 message.

Keep the tone direct but friendly...

=B7 First, specifically ask the President to implement the ban on new
investment in Burma outlined in the Burma sanctions law
=20
=B7 Include a personal paragraph describing yourself and your interest in=
 Burma.
=20
=B7 Mention that you consider that the recent arrest of nearly 800 Burmese
democracy movement activists constitutes =93large-scale=94 repression

=B7 Stress that the SLORC's recent release of some of those detained should
not cause the Administration to desist from imposing a ban on new US=
 investment
=20
=B7 Stress Aung San Suu Kyi's support for economic sanctions on Burma
=20
=B7 Reiterate your request for a ban on US investment in Burma and ask
President Clinton for a reply.

President William Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

For extra impact, please send copies of your letter to:

Ambassador Madeleine  K. Albright
US Mission to the United Nations
799 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
(212) 415 4050
(212) 415 4053 fax

Secretary Warren Christopher		=09
Secretary of State			=09
Department of State			=09
2201 C Street, NW			=09
Washington, DC 20520			=09

National Security Advisor Anthony Lake
National Security Council
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Your US Senators and Representative

Thank you for writing.  Only *sustained* grassroots pressure will prompt the
Administration to take action.

Free Burma!

Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423 6655
(617) 482 6179 fax
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
While I am seldom in agreement with Senator Jesse Helms on any issue, I
appreciate his outspoken support for sanctions on Burma.

Please find below a copy of his recent letter to President Clinton as a good
example of how such a letter can be written.

Simon
----------------

United States Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations
Washington, DC  20510-6225

October 4, 1996

The President
The White House

Dear Mr. President:

With all respect, I am convinced that you erred when on September 30,
you signed into law the conditional sanctions under which an
investment ban could be triggered by certain actions against Daw Aung
Sun Suu Kyi, including her rearrest for political acts, or by large
scale repression of or violence against the Democratic opposition.

Although many of us in the Senate favored an immediate prohibition on
new U.S. investment, Congress mistakenly adopted the conditional
approach favored by the Administration. While the situation in Burma
had already deteriorated markedly, we had hoped and expected that the
Administration would follow through on its sanctions commitment in
response to intensified repression against either Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
or pro-democracy activists.

I got my hopes up when, while testifying before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee on August 1, Secretary of State Christopher
asserted "I think that if Aung San Suu Kyi is not permitted to
continue to speak out, if she is placed under house arrest and
restricted, I think that would be a reason to take the action called
for under the Cohen amendment."

Mr. President, every condition for the imposition of an investment ban
has been met. Eight hundred democracy activists were arrested during
the past weeks. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's home has been barricaded, her
phone line cut and her supporters prevented from meeting with her.

In other words, the SLORC is calling your Administration's bluff.
Failure to impose sanctions at this point will clearly signal the
SLORC that it can abuse its citizens without consequences from the
United States. The U.S.'s credibility, resolve and character hangs in
the balance on this issue.

I urge that you act immediately to impose a ban on new U.S. investment
in Burma and lead other countries in the region in an effort to
restore democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Burma.

Sincerely,

(signed)
JESSE HELMS