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Action Alert! Keep Writing Governor



Subject: Action Alert! Keep Writing Governor Weld!

MASSACHUSETTS BURMA ROUNDTABLE: ACTION ALERT

2/11/97


"[US Rep. Barney] Frank suggested if the state's law barring Massachusetts
from trading with firms that do business in Burma were found to be a WTO
violation, any sanction against Massachusetts should "be paid for by
reducing the amount of money spent on the defense of both Japan and
Europe."" - Reuters 2/10/97


KEEP WRITING GOVERNOR WELD!

The political backlash against the European Commission and the Japanese
government grows. 

US Rep. Barney Frank plans to issue a letter today to the President of the
European Commission (EC), signed by the Massachusetts delegation to the US
House of Representatives. The letter will protest the pressure that the EC
has placed on Massachusetts with regard the Massachusetts Burma selective
purchasing law. (See yesterday's Reuter's story at the end of this action
alert.)

Governor William Weld has still not indicated yet how he will respond to the
pressure from the Japanese Government and the European Commission. We need
to keep the flow of letters of support to Governor Weld. The more letters he
receives, the more he will defend the Massachusetts Burma law. It's that simple.

Burma selective purchasing legislation has been introduced in the
Connecticut legislature by Rep. Jesse Stratton. Similar legislation may well
be introduced in a few other states over the next few weeks. It is vital
that we dispell the pressure from the European Commission and Japanese
government to ensure the passage of more state laws!


SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR LETTER

*  Open your letter by thanking the Governor for signing the law last June.
Specifically request that Governor Weld defend the Massachusetts Burma law
in the face of pressure from the Japanese government and the European Commission

*  Describe your interest in Burma. Mention either:
 a) your deep roots in Massachusetts
 b) your appreciation for the Massachusetts law and your plan to enact a
similar 
law in your home state or home country
 c) IF YOU LIVE IN JAPAN OR THE EUROPEAN UNION, EXPLAIN THAT THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT OR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION DOES NOT REPRESENT YOUR VIEWS!

*  The political situation in Burma remains very grave. The military junta
has imprisoned over 100 members of the National League for Democracy and
prevented Aung San Suu Kyi from meeting with democracy movement supporters

* Mention that Massachusetts is not alone. Over ten other US cities and
counties have enacted similar laws. Activists in the US, Canada, Europe and
Asia are already working to introduce similar laws.

* Mention that if Massachusetts had not stood up to similar pressure after
enacting its South Africa law, Nelson Mandela might still be in prison today

* Remind him that Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy
movement has specifically called for economic sanctions and expressed her
support for the Massachusetts Burma law

Send your letter to:

Governor William Weld
State House
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Boston, MA 02133-1053

(617) 727-3600
(617) 727-9731 - fax
(617) 727-9725 - fax

Please send a copy of your letter to:

Rep. Byron Rushing
State House
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Boston, MA 02133-1053

(617) 722-2220
(617) 722-2897 - fax

If you have already written, ask a friend, co-worker or family member to write.

Thank you once again for your help. Without your assistance, this law would
never have been enacted. With your assistance again, we can successfully
defend the Massachusetts law and make any challenge to it at the World Trade
Organization politically impossible.

Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423 6655 x225
(617) 482 6179 fax
simon_billenness@xxxxxxxxxxxx

________________________________________________

Subject: Congressmen Defend Massachusetts to EU, Japan

    By Leslie Gevirtz     BOSTON, Feb 10 (Reuter) - A group of Democratic
congressmen from Massachusetts wrote to the European Union on Monday telling
them to stay out of the internal affairs of their state, which is boycotting
firms that trade with Burma. 

    Democratic Rep. Barney Frank, who authored the letter to the EU signed by
the state's congressional delegation, said in a telephone interview: "We're
fully prepared to support Massachusetts in this matter. 

    "Most countries don't fully comply with the WTO (World Trade Organization
agreement) ... but I particularly resent both the EU and Japan trying to
interfere with Massachusetts, particularly since we pay for their defense,"
Frank said. 

    The letter to the EU follows one sent to Japan's Prime Minister Ryutaro
Hashimoto on Friday that said Japan had the sovereign right to put dollars
ahead of human rights but it should not "intimidate Massachusetts into
changing the standards it has established for doing business with the state
government." 

    About 10 U.S. cities, including San Francisco, have passed selective
purchasing laws against firms doing business in Burma, citing the brutality
of the military junta that controls the Southeast Asian nation. But
Massachusetts is the only state and the largest market so far to boycott such
firms. 

    Frank suggested if the state's law barring Massachusetts from trading
with firms that do business in Burma were found to be a WTO violation, any
sanction against Massachusetts should "be paid for by reducing the amount of
money spent on the defense of both Japan and Europe." 

    The EU has complained to the U.S. State Department about the
Massachusetts law that went into effect on Jan 1. In a letter sent to
Governor William Weld, EU Ambassador Hugo Paemen called the measure "a breach
of U.S. international obligations and as such could have a damaging effect on
bilaterial EU-US relations." 

    Since Weld signed the law last August, it has inspired several U.S. firms
including Apple Computer <APPL.O> and Hewlett-Packard <HWP.N> to cut ties
with Burma. 

    Human rights activists said the state law was a challenge to Burma's
ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council and noted Aung San Suu Kyi,
the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner who leads the country's democratic
opposition, has called for sanctions against her country's government. 

19:34 02-10-97