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Bkk Post-Ruling doesn't back dealin



Subject: Bkk Post-Ruling doesn't back dealing with Burma

Bangkok Post - June 29, 1999.
Ruling doesn't back dealing with Burma

I would like to rebut the position of Unocal executives, as reported in your
paper, discussing a recent US court decision regarding state laws which
place economic sanctions on human rights violators.

This important decision is part of the continuing US process of defining
state rights and national rights. The US Civil War was fought over this
issue.

The court is saying that separate states do not have the right to establish
foreign economic policy. This right rests with the federal government. This
is a good ruling, which saves foreign companies and countries from having to
deal with different foreign trade policies in 50 different states.

Unocal is trying to exploit the ruling by trumpeting it as a victory for
constructive engagement with Burma. This is blatantly false, and another
indication of Unocal's willingness to play loose with the facts in order to
preserve profit regardless of the human cost.

US foreign economic policy continues to ban new investment in Burma, and
Unocal is only still there because it was "grandfathered" under the law,
meaning the law would not force out businesses already invested in Burma.

Fact: Companies and countries of conscience have long since ceased
supporting the military dictatorship and its horrendous human rights abuses
in Burma. Fact: Unocal has continued to support the oppression. No amount of
spin can change these facts, and the US court ruling certainly does not
exonerate Unocal's odious behaviour.

While Unocal may gain some sound bites from the ruling, I hope the Unocal
executives will remember two other facts.

First is that this court ruling will now motivate human rights activists to
take the fight for economic sanctions against supporters of the Burmese
dictatorship to the US federal level. Second is that evil will not triumph,
and some day Burma will be free and democratic, and will remember you for
who you are.

Angus MacGillivary