July Action Alert: EUROPEAN COMMISS

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

Subject: July Action Alert: EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO TAKE MASSACHUSETTS  BURMA LAW TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION!

NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE: JULY ACTION ALERT

JULY 2, 1997

EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO TAKE MASSACHUSETTS BURMA LAW TO THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION!

"Q: In the United States there have been some cities and the state of
Massachusetts that have chosen not to do business with companies that deal
with Burma. Is this an effective means of supporting democratization in
Burma?"

"A: Very much so. We would like to see more of this. It?s consumer power.
It?s good to know that the people of different countries are really
concerned and involved in the movement to help Burma. I think in some ways
it's better to have the people of the world on your side than the
governments of the world, even if governments can be more effective in
certain directions."

- Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel peace Prize Laureate and leader of the Burmese
democracy movement in an interview with the Progressive, March 1997

In this alert:

1.  European Commission Moves to Destroy the Massachusetts Burma Law at the
World Trade Organization.
2.  What you can do if you live in Massachusetts
3.  What you can do if you live outside Massachusetts

1. European Commission Moves to Destroy the Massachusetts Burma Law!

On June 20, the European Commission (EC) requested formal consultations
with the United States about the Massachusetts Burma law under the World
Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement procedures. These consultations
are the final step before the dispute goes to a formal WTO dispute
settlement tribunal. 

The EC claims that the Massachusetts Burma law violates an obscure
provision of a WTO Agreement that bars the use of "political" criteria in
granting federal and state procurement contracts.

Modeled after previous South Africa-related legislation, the Massachusetts
Burma selective purchasing law effectively bars Massachusetts state
agencies from buying goods or services from companies that do business in
Burma. Citing the Massachusetts Burma law, several corporations have
withdrawn from Burma. The corporations include Apple Computer, Eastman
Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Obayishi and Philips Electronics.

Under pressure from European corporations affected by the law, the European
Commission is now trying to use the WTO dispute procedures to dictate how
Massachusetts should spend its own taxpayers money!

2. WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS

It is vital that Governor Weld, Attorney General Scott Harshbarger and our
elected legislators hear from us on this issue. In response to our letters,
Attorney General Harshbarger has told Reuters of his firm support for the
Burma law.

Please write, call or fax. Let our elected officials know that:

1.  They should stand firm against pressure from the European Commission to
water down the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law.

2.  You strongly believe that elected Massachusetts legislators and
officials should decide how to spend Massachusetts taxpayers money, not
unaccountable European Commission bureaucrats.

3.  The European Parliament voted unanimously to request that the European
Commission *not* to take the Massachusetts Burma law to the World Trade
Organization. Why should Massachusetts legislators amend their law to suit
European Commission bureaucrats when elected European Parliament
legislators unanimously support the Massachusetts Burma law?

4. Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement, supports
the Massachusetts Burma law and has stated such laws are an effective means
of helping to restore democracy in Burma.

***  If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family to write
too!  ***

Governor William Weld
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133	
(617) 727-3600
(617) 727-5291 fax

Attorney General Scott Harshbarger
1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2200
(617) 727-5778 fax

Senate President Thomas Birmingham
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1500
(617) 248-3840 fax

House Speaker Thomas Finneran
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2500
(617) 722-2008 fax

Call your state representative and state senator at: (617) 722-2000
Write to them at:
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
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3. WHAT YOU CAN DO IF LIVE OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS

1.  You strongly support the Massachusetts Burma law as it currently stands.
 
2.  European Commission bureaucrats should not be allowed to tell elected
American state legislators how to spend US taxpayers money.
 
3.  On June 12, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution
that urged the European Commission not to take action against the
Massachusetts Burma law at the World Trade Organization. Why should
Massachusetts legislators amend their Burma law to suit European Commission
bureaucrats when elected European Parliament legislators unanimously
support the Massachusetts Burma law?
 
4.  Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement,
supports the Massachusetts Burma law and has stated such laws are an
effective means of helping to restore democracy in Burma.

5. Mention that you support the enactment of similar Burma selective
purchasing laws in your home state.

***  6. If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member
to write too!  ***

To Whom to Write:

President William Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

* send a copy of your letter to President Clinton to:

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Please also write to your US Senators and Representative. Ask them
specifically to write U. S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to
urge her to strongly defend the Massachusetts Burma law from the European
Commission

You can write your US Senator at:

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

You can write your US Representative at:

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

You can call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at (800) 972-3524.
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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS

Thank you for your help. Your efforts will protect the Massachusetts Burma
law. Please mail or fax me a copy of your letters so that we can gauge the
response to this action  alert.

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292 8026 x225
(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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