----------------------------------BurmaNet---------------------------- 
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies" 
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The BurmaNet News: November 10, 1996
Issue #565  SPECIAL EDITION - FBC UPDATE

HEADLINES:
==========
BURMANET EDITOR'S NOTE
BOYCOTT WENTE:  BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS
LETTER FROM PEPSI DISTRIBUTOR CALLING FOR SANCTIONS
AUSTRALIAN AID AGENCIES CALL FOR TOURISM BOYCOTT
IUF/SWISS APPEAL ON BURMA TOURISM
BURMA ACTION GROUP UK - DON'T VISIT BURMA YET
BURMA ACTION-IRELAND UPDATE
FRENCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST TOTAL  AND FIDH REPORT
EAST ANGLIA U. STUDENT UNION BOYCOTTS TOURISM TO BURMA
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ACTIVISTS SQUARE OFF AGAINST TEXACO 
OHIO UPDATE
ARIZONA UPDATE
FREE BURMA ACTION IN ALASKA
FBC: CAMPAIGN UPDATE
MASSACHUSETTS FREE BURMA UPDATE 
FBC: NOTES FROM HIGH SCHOOL FREE BURMA ACTIVISTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------

BURMANET EDITOR'S NOTE
November 10, 1996

The Free Burma movement has expanded tremendously over the past year -
both geographically and in terms of groups within the population.  In
particular, high school students in the United States have begun taking an
active role in the campaign, bringing their whole families with them (see
their letters at the end of this issue).  At the same time, groups in
Ireland, Switzerland, and France (see their reports below) have become
increasingly organized and effective.  

Over the past few months, several positive steps have been taken.  Both
the United States and the European Union have placed visa bans on SLORC
officials and their families.  Even before the ban, the US denied a visa to
Steven
Law, the son of reputed drug dealer Lo Hsing Han.  The EU has also banned 
high level EU delegations from visiting Burma.  In September, the US Congress
passed sanctions legislation which allows the President to impose sanctions
if Aung San Suu Kyi is rearrested or harmed or if the SLORC carries out 
"large-scale repression" against the NLD.  Several spokespeople for ASEAN
countries have also publicly declared that Burma is not ready for ASEAN 
membership.  

Meanwhile, more businesses have pulled out (Carlsberg, Heinekin, and BHS) 
and many others have decided not to go in.   Two lawsuits have been filed 
against Unocal criticizing their indirect role in human rights abuses on the 
pipeline.  And campus activism is continuing to grow, with a divestment 
campaign at University of Wisconsin and boycott Pepsi campaigns else-
where.  The Free Burma fast in early October was also successful in increasing
awareness about the situation in Burma and generating thousands of letters
to President Clinton to impose sanctions immediately.

(note: postings below have been abridged/edited by BurmaNet)
-------------------------------------------------

BOYCOTT WENTE:  BURMESE PARTNER BANNED FOR DRUG LINKS
November 4, 1996
From: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@u.washington.edu>

Larry Dohrs, Free Burma Coalition, 206-784-5742
John Schwartz, Wente Vinyards, 510-447-3603                           

On November 4 an international coalition of human rights groups announced 
a boycott of Wente Vineyards of Livermore, CA.  Boycotters criticize Wente's 
links to its Burmese partner Steven Law, head of Asia World Company Ltd.  
Law has been denied a visa to the US based on suspected involvement in the 
drug trade.

While other companies have been boycotted for their support of
Burma's military regime, Wente is the first company to be targeted due to
concerns over Burmese heroin exports.

Burma supplies most of the world's heroin, including 60% of the
heroin in the US and 80% in Canada.  In March, a State Department
narcotics report said about Burma, "lack of enforcement against money
laundering has created a business environment conducive to the use of
drug-related proceeds in legitimate commerce."

Wente announced its Burma deal in February, describing Law as a
"major player."  Law is the son of Lo Hsing Han, called by the Washington
Post "one of Southeast Asia's leading heroin traffickers."  Wente VP John
Schwartz is aware that Law is barred from the US, but has offered no comment.

"Doing business in Burma is bad enough" says San Francisco City
Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who led a successful effort to ban city contracts
with companies doing business in Burma.  "But Wente's 'business
arrangement' with a suspected heroin trafficker is outrageous," he says,
noting the troubling rise in heroin use by teens.

The boycott is backed by the US-based Free Burma Coalition, which
has members in 15 countries worldwide, the Canadian Friends of Burma and
Burma Centrum Netherlands.

Wente brand names include Wente Vineyards, Murrieta's Well,
Ficklin Vineyards, Sergio Traverso, Ivan Tamas, Concannon Vineyards, Sokol
Blosser Oregon Winery, and microbrew St. Stan's Beer.

Asia World Co. has recently been the target of an investigation by the
Australian 
television program "Dateline," which aired its findings October 12.

---------------------------------------------------------------

LETTER FROM PEPSI DISTRIBUTOR CALLING FOR SANCTIONS
November 2, 1996
From: Sean Armstrong <sga1@axe.humboldt.edu>

In response to discussions with FBC activists in Eureka, CA:

Nov. 2nd, 1996

Pepsi Cola of Eureka, CA, acknowledges the implication of the PepsiCo 
involvement in Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma.  Although we 
here at the local level don't agree with the PepsiCo position in Burma, 
our success in conveying our message has been limited. [the CEO wouldn't 
even return phone calls to the owner]  As you know from our letter to 
Craig Weatherup we have made our position known, but do not expect much 
response as our franchise is locally owned and quite small, representing 
less than one half of one percent of the toatal U.S. volume.

It is Pepsi Eureka's feeling that this issue must be dealt with on a 
purely poitical basis.  Only through rigid sanctions against Burmese 
trade will these problems be resolved.  We have learned that to impose a 
sanction on a foreign government a measure must be brought before the 
United States Senate and pass by majority vote.  Our recommmentdation in 
expediting the senate vote process is to direct all correspondence to the 
U.S. Senate subcommittee on trade, headed by (1) U.S. Representative Phil 
Crane of Illinois.  With a concentrated effort behind an active letter 
writing or computer E-mail campaign we feel that the people of the 
Humboldt County area can voice their opinions on a national level where 
they can truly make a difference.

As we are all aware, the real goal here is to aid and benefit the Burmese 
people, not jeopardize the jobs of the employees of Pepsi Cola Eureka.  

Sincerely,

Steve Coughlin
Pepsi Cola-Eureka
--------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALIAN AID AGENCIES CALL FOR TOURISM BOYCOTT
November 1, 1996 (Australian Council for Overseas Aid)
ACFOA Human Rights Office <acfoahr@peg.apc.org>
 
The peak body for Australian development agencies, the Australian Council
for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) is calling for Australians to boycott  a tourist
campaign  by Burma's ruling military junta.  The State Law and Order
Restoration Council (SLORC) will launch a six month campaign "Visit
Myanmar Year"  in November 1996  to May 1997 in a bid to attract  250 000
foreign tourists.

A new brochure on human rights and tourism produced by the Burma
NGO/Community Meeting was released by ACFOA this week. Entitled Holidays in
Burma?  the brochure details tens of thousands of Burmese citizens who have
been forced to work for the army in preparing infrastructure such as roads,
railways, airports, markets and repairing historical sites for tourists. 

ACFOA Executive Director Janet Hunt called on Australians: " Don't support
this brutal regime or condone their abuses of Burmese people by traveling
to Burma during SLORC's tourism campaign. Tens of  thousands of  Burmese
people have been rounded up by the army to slave on  projects like the
dredging of the Mandalay palace moat or building runways for the new airport
at Bassein. Forced labor is endemic in Burma ."

"In the longer term we don't want to isolate the Burmese people, but during
Visit Myanmar Year, ACFOA is calling on all Australian travelers and
Australian travel companies to condemn this abuse of human rights in Burma
and to withhold their support for the SLORC's tourism campaign. We want it
to be a big flop for SLORC," Ms Hunt said.

Holidays in Burma? developed by the Burma NGO/Community Meeting focuses on
human rights abuses committed in the name of tourism and sets out  the case
for not supporting travel to Burma. Burma was renamed Myanmar by the SLORC
in 1989. The brochure notes extensive military holdings in the tourist
industry such as the family of  former dictator General Ne Win, who have a
half share in Burma's airline Myanmar Airways. Upon arrival, tourists are
compelled to exchange $US 300 at an artificial rate, the difference of which
acts as a direct cash contribution to SLORC.

Further information:
Executive Director,  Janet Hunt: (06) 285 1816  (w) (06) 281 0252 (h)
Burma Project Administrator, (03) 9417 7238 (w) (03) 9528 4508 (h)
 
---------------------------------------------------------------

IUF/SWISS APPEAL ON BURMA TOURISM
November 5, 1996
From: darnott@gn.apc.org

Geneva and Basel,

"DON'T VISIT MYANMAR YEAR 96"
DON'T ACCEPT THE GENERALS' HOLIDAY INVITATION
 
The Swiss-Burma Association, Arbeitskreis Tourismus und
Entwicklung, and the International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF)
 
issue a joint appeal to the Swiss people and the political and
economic leaders of Switzerland to bring immediate support to
the  embattled Burmese democracy movement by refraining from
traveling to Burma, and by refusing to cooperate in any way
with the military regime.
 
At a time when travel agents' catalogues are promoting Burma
as the "mysterious land of golden pagodas",  and the military
junta is preparing to launch its year of tourism, it is vital
to inform the public about the conditions under which this
tourism year is being brought about:
 
The preparation of the tourist infrastructure has involved
massive human rights abuses. This "holiday paradise" is being
built by forced labour. Throughout the country the people,
particularly ethnic minorities and members of the democratic
opposition, are subject to constant repression by the military junta.
 
* SWISS TRAVELERS are strongly urged not to go to Burma at
this time.  Such a decision will not only support the
endangered Burmese Democracy Movement, but constitute a
sanction against those travel agents who close their eyes to
extremely serious human rights violations in the country and
thus put the quality of their clients' holidays at risk.
 
* SWISS TRAVEL AGENTS are urged to respect the recommendation
of their own organisation: in October 1995 the Environment and
Social Affairs Group of the Federation of Swiss Travel Agents
recommended their members not to promote Burma at this time.
By accepting the invitation of the Burmese Generals and by
cooperating with them, travel agents bring discredit on themselves 
and betray the trust of their clients, who rely on their advice.
 
Beyond the tourist industry, the SWISS BUSINESS COMMUNITY is
urged not to invest in Burma at this time. Multinational
companies like brewers Heineken (Netherlands) and Carlsberg
(Denmark) have withdrawn from the country in recent months.
They took this action not least as a result of pressure from
trade unions, workers and threats of sanctions. 
 
The SWISS GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION are urged to bring
effective support to the endangered Burmese democratic forces,
in particular opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in order to
actively encourage the process of democratisation in the
country. The Burmese Democracy Movement is asking for
international sanctions against the military junta. The United
States and European Union have imposed sanctions in recent
weeks, and ASEAN is currently reconsidering whether Burma is
ready to enter the Association. One might therefore expect
that the SWISS PARLIAMENT Will revise the law on the export of
war materials so that the export of  Pilatus planes (and spare
parts) to Burma will be forbidden. Only last Spring, attacks
made by adapted Pilatus P7s in the junta's offensive against Karenni 
civilians in Kayah State led to the flight of thousands of people.

This statement is supported by:
Arbeitsgemeinschaft gegen Kinderprostitution, Human rights
working group of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches
(SEK), Bread for All, FIZ --Information Centre for Third World
Women, Society for Threatened Peoples (Switzerland), International 
Federation of Commercial, Clerical, Professional and Technical 
Employees (FIET), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

Further information from
 
Christine Plss, Arbeitskreis Tourismus und Entwicklung, Basel,
Tel (061) 261 4742; Fax 261 4721 
Claude Schauli, Association Suisse-Birmanie; Tel 079/203. 84.65
Dan Gallin, Peter Rossman, Secretariat of IUF; Tel
022/793.22.33; Fax 793 2238
------------------------------------------------------------------

BURMA ACTION GROUP UK - DON'T VISIT BURMA YET
October 28, 1996
>From bagp@gn.apc.org

The Burma Action Group UK presents "DON'T VISIT BURMA YET"
7pm,Tuesday 19th November 1996, the Royal Institution

Guest speakers:  John Pilger & A special guest

The Burma Action Group UK are pleased to invite you to attend a
unique fund-raising event which will be held on the evening of the
19th November 1996, hosted on our behalf by the prestigious journalist 
John Pilger. During the evening he will screen a previously unreleased 
interview between himself and Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, 
and will speak about his recent visit to Burma.  Daw Suu has called for a  
tourism boycott of her country, in particular during the repressive military 
dictatorship's heralded "Visit Myanmar Year 1996".

Programme
7.00pm   Reception and Photo exhibition 
7.30pm Screened interview with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
8.00pm Talk by John Pilger, Discussion session 
9.00pm Address by our special guest 
9.15pm Burmese food, book signing by John Pilger, sale of merchandise,
"The story of Suu" by reknowned storyteller Danny Scheninmann
Donations welcomed, 10.30pm Ends

For reservations, contact The Burma Action Group, Collins Studios,
Collins Yard, Islington Green, london, N1 2XU Tel: (44) (0)171 359
7679  Fax: (44) (0)171 354 3987  E-mail: bagp@gn.apc.org

-----------------------------------------------------------

BURMA ACTION-IRELAND UPDATE
November 1 1996 
From: Neville Irons <100555.447@CompuServe.COM>

We had a presentation of "Beyond Rangoon" at the Irish Film Centre earlier 
this month; it was a great success.  John Boorman introduced the film and 
read a letter from out Foreign Minister Dick Spring....edited extract follows:
                "...you have my support and I express my deep concern for the
plight of democracy in Burma today. I salute the extraordinary bravery and
fortitude of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the elected leader of her nation who 
has been incarcerated and disenfranchised. I am aware that the situation is 
deteriorating and the SLORC is applying even more repressive policies. 
Democratic nations must increase pressure on the SLORC; with this in mind 
as President in Office of the European Union Council of Ministers I met twice 
in recent months with the Burmese Minister of Foreign Affairs and expressed 
frankly my deep concern and that of my EU colleagues in regard to the political 
and human rights situation in Burma. I might add that the situation in Burma is 
to be discussed at the General Affairs Council of the European Union in 
Luxembourg on 28th October."

We in Burma Action-Ireland are following up this and have made
excellent contacts in the EU administration both in Ireland and Brussels.

----------------------------------------------------------------

FRENCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST TOTAL  AND FIDH REPORT
October 28, 1996
>From darnott@gn.apc.org 

The Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights
(FIDH), which has national chapters in a large number of
countries, issued a report on 23 October condemning the French
oil company Total for complicity in human rights violations in
Burma (see report on p3 of "Le Monde" of 24/Oct/96: "Human
Rights activists condemn the collusion between Total and the
Burmese dictatorship"). 
 
FIDH argues that forced relocations, forced labour and other human rights 
violations in the area are directly related to the pipeline; that "without the 
pipeline, some or all of the violations would not have occurred". The human 
rights organisation does not deny that Total has tried to avoid forced labour 
on the limited area of the actual pipeline site.

However, Total's partner in the operation, the Burmese military junta, the 
SLORC, is somewhat less meticulous. Forced labour is an integral part of
its economy, and forced relocation of whole populations its standard way 
of dealing with ethnic groups which have the misfortune to live in the wrong 
place.
 
Total cannot claim innocence and protest that it was unaware of its partner's 
bad habits: the international condemnations have not been kept secret; indeed, 
the French Government, which sits on the Total board, is the very government 
which every year since 1989 has prepared the resolution on Burma at the UN 
Commission on Human Rights. In addition, non-governmental organisations 
have informed Total many times since the project was first discussed that human 
rights violations were likely in such an operation. It was predictable, for
instance, 
that SLORC would use forced labour in carrying out its part of the pipeline 
agreement, namely to "guarantee the security" of the pipeline.
 
FIDH also argues that the pipeline project constitutes "economic support" 
for the Burmese dictatorship, which "already benefits financially from the 
pipeline through loans guaranteed by future revenues". More than 50% 
of SLORC's budget is for the military.
 
THE CAMPAIGN 
 
The report supports a campaign launched at the end of September by Agir 
Ici and a number of other groups in France, to get Total to suspend its 
operations in Burma. 
 
The groups concerned are: Aide Medicale Internationale, Federation Artisans 
du Monde, FIDH, France Libertes, Freres des Hommes, Justice et Paix-France, 
Peuples Solidaires, Reseau Jeunes Solidaires, Reseau Solidarite, Reseau 
d'information tiers monde, Survie, and Terre des Hommes-France. These
groups, with a combined membership of approximately 20,000, will send letters 
and postcards to the Total officers, among other forms of action.
 
The Burma Campaign accompanies a similar campaign on Elf and Shell for 
their activities in Nigeria. The information brochure is headed "Nigeria, 
Birmanie: les dictatures carburent au super!" ("Nigeria, Burma: dictatorships 
running on super!"). 
 
The brochure has a brief outline of recent Burmese history, the human rights 
situation, Total's involvement and the Burmese democracy movement's 
request for sanctions.  The text on the postcard, addressed to the Chairman 
of Total, goes:

"Your company is playing a key role in gas exploitation in
Burma.  Considering the political situation in the country and
the appeal made by Nobel Peace Laureate Mme Aung San Suu Kyi
and Burmese democrats for economic sanctions on their country,
I ask you to SUSPEND TOTAL'S OPERATIONS IN BURMA until the
military restores civilian rule......"

Those wanting further information on the campaign, or campaign
materials, should contact 
 
Marie-Line Ramackers, Agir Ici, 14, Passage Dubail, F-75010
Paris, France. Tel (+33-1) 40 35 07 00; 
Fax 40 35 06 20; email agirici@gn.globenet.org

------------------------------------------------------------------

EAST ANGLIA U. STUDENT UNION BOYCOTTS TOURISM TO BURMA
October 24, 1996
>From omtun@gn.apc.org 

Maung Myint Swe, a Burmese student studying at the University of East
Anglia in England,  is active in the student Union which has now decided 
to stop promoting and selling holidays to Burma and to give full support to 
movements and organisations which  campaign for the cessation of abuses 
of rights in Burma.

The following motion was recently passed by the Union of University of 
East Anglia  (UEA) students:  
 
1)The Burmese government consistently violates the Universal Declaration 
of Human Rights of 1948.
2) 1996 is the Year of the Tourism in Burma.
3) The Burmese government is a brutal dictatorship which suppresses any 
     forms of opposition or dissent often by violent means.

So, the Union is of the opinion that support should not be given to 
governments who  violate human rights and prevent democratic processes. 
And the Union believes that the people in Britain should not give financial 
support to the Burmese government by  promoting tourism to Burma because 
the dictatorship in Burma thrives off the financial rewards of tourism.

Therefore, the Union has carried the following resolutions:
1)  Not to advertise or promote holidays to Burma in the Travel Shop or 
elsewhere by brochures or any other means.
2) To publicise in the Travel Shop that brochures about Burma are unavailable.
3)  To actively support societies campaigning to highlight and to prevent 
abuses in Burma.

The East Anglia University Student Union is the first University student 
Union in the UK, which has joined hand with the Burmese people and 
Burmese students in their quest for democracy.

-----------------------------------------------------------

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ACTIVISTS SQUARE OFF AGAINST TEXACO 
November 8, 1996
from zni@students.wisc.edu

Yesterday, we had about 100 supporters that showed up at the meeting before
the UW Regents Business and Finance Committee.  Three people officially
made a compelling case for divestment from Texaco and PepsiCo.  15 other
organziers from across Wisconsin spoke in support of Burma in the context
of Socially Responsible Investment campaign.

Although the full board of Regents' meeting was delayed for an hour,
because of the sheer number of supporters including business school
professors who teach business ethics and social responsibility, community
activits, city council members, and public interest lawyers from various
foundations in town, we were able to make the Regents switch their agenda
and allow us present our case at scheduled time.

The decision on our demands (divesture from Pepsi and Taxaco, adoption of
socially reponsible investment policies, and establishment of a to be made
up of faculty,student, alumni, and citizen to oversee the UW business
activities) will be made by February, 1997.

The Wisconsin Press was there including the Wisconsin Public Radio,
Wisconsin State Journal, campus papers, and so on.

The Associated Students of Madison (UW-Madison student government) and the
United Council (student government for the entire UW system) will be taking
up this issue.  At the United Council we are trying to get the resolution
passed which will get rid of all Pepsi businesses from the entire UW
System.  (Contact: Greg at  gmolk412@uwsp.edu)

The next step for us in Wisconsin is to go after Wisconsin State Pension
Fund which has holdings worth about $30 billion.

Anyone of you campus spiders want to work on launching
campus-community-based campaign on the subject of social responsibility
using Free Burma campaign as a springboard, please do contact us here in
Wisconsin.  (Contact: John Rosen at jmrosen@ix.netcom.com)

Stanford, Wesleyan, Macalester, Northwestern, U. Chicago, and several other
campuses are working on this project as well.

----------------------------------------------------------

OHIO UPDATE
October 27 1996
From: Lisa Booth Brooten <lb252689@oak.cats.ohiou.edu>

We here in Ohio just had our first "statewide" meeting last Saturday (10/19).  
Actually, this meeting ended up including about 20-25 folks from Columbus 
and Athens. Our next meeting will take place January 11th in Columbus, 
beginning at 11 AM.

Specific accomplishments:
** we plan to set up a meeting during the December break with both Ohio
senators, and hope to get representatives from at least Athens, Columbus
and Cincinnatti to attend these meetings

** we are currently focusing on outreach so as to begin 1997 with a
concerted statewide effort

** we are trying to set up a statewide Burmanet to increase the number of
people communicating on-line.  I have agreed to act as the monitor of both
Burmanet and Free Burma lists, to weed out what seems most relevant to our
statewide efforts, and to cut down the volume to a significant enough
degree that people actually stay "tuned" -- this will hopefully be a good
forum for statewide discussion/idea generation/planning, etc

-------------------------------------------------------------

ARIZONA UPDATE
November 7, 1996
From: People Before Profits <emp@U.Arizona.EDU>

Today we held a protest in front of the Taco Bell in the Student Union.  
We stood there with a big banner that said "Boycott TacoBell, Boycott 
Pepsi" and we also passed out informational fliers to people as they walked 
by.  When the owners finally noticed us, they sent the Director of the
Student Union down to kick us out.  He talked with us about Pepsi's
pullout and he is still convinced that Pepsi has no presence whatsoever in
Burma.  However, he gave us his card and we are going to set up a meeting
with him.  After the protest, the student radio station asked us into their
studio for a live, on-the-air interview.  It was very good and they were
very supportive of our cause. The school newspaper also came out to take a
few pictures. - Eric

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE BURMA ACTION IN ALASKA
October 27, 1996
>From atsm@UAA.ALASKA.EDU

Alaskans for a Free Burma showed "Inside Burma" and had a discussion and 
handed out info. About 25 people came, which is good for this town. Now 
"Inside Burma" is going on tour to the Amnesty Int'l group in Kenai where 
Unocal is a big deal. Oil is big up here in general. I plan to hit the
schools next.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FBC: CAMPAIGN UPDATE
October 28, 1996
from zarni: zni@students.wisc.edu

PEPSI CAMPAIGN
PepsiCo has remained adamant against terminating its contract in Burma.  
If they lose a few more contracts in the US, they will be forced to reconsider 
their unethical business dealings in Burma.  Currently there are serious Pepsi 
campaigns at a number of universities.  We will keep you updated on the 
progress of the campaign as soon as there is a significant development for 
this academic year.

PUBLIC "FREE BURMA" AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Because of  the Octobr fast, local communities and our campuses have become 
better informed about our campaign.  Recently St. Cloud State University and 
Macalester College held Burma nights where they had speakers and showed 
John Pilger's Land of Fear documentary.

FBC WORKING GATHERING IN EARLY FEBRUARY
The Free Burma Coalition plans to hold a WORKING GATHERING at American
University in Washington, DC in early February of this coming year.

It is time for us to begin developing colletive leadership which will guide the 
future course of our movement.  This Washington gathering will give us an 
opportunity to meet with our fellow spiders and to actually share our ideas and 
experience with them.  We can expect at least 200 spiders from around the world 
to come and attend this gathering.

If you wish to help make this gathering a success, please drop a note to
zni@students.wisc.edu  The American University FBC has kindly agreed to help 
organzie the gathering.  Jeremey Woodrum (jw1970a@american.edu) will be the
host 
organizer and a bunch of us will assist him.

HIGH SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
There are a growing number of high school groups that are with us in the
Free Burma movement.  In a California statewide high school activist
conference to be held at Standford U., the Free Burma campaign will feature
prominently and we hope a lot more high school and other grade students 
will join hands with us.

CITY ORDINANCES
A city selective purchasing ordinance was recently passed in Takoma Park,
Maryland.  This brings the total of city ordinances to seven plus one state:
Ann Arbor MI, Madison WI, Santa Monica CA, San Francisco CA, Oakland CA,
Carborro NC,  and Takoma Park MD, plus the State of Massachusetts

FBC activists are currently working on selective purchasing ordinance campaigns 
in New York, Evanston and various other cities.

TOURISM CAMPAIGN
Please be on the look out for alumni and museum tours to Burma.  Last year
about 19 university alumni tours went to Burma.

----------------------------------------------------------

MASSACHUSETTS FREE BURMA UPDATE 
November 1, 1996
>From simon_billenness@cybercom.net 

I would urge other Free Burma groups to organize statewide.  In 
Massachusetts, we have organized statewide for three years, meeting
monthly and building a mailing and emailing list of 300. By organizing
statewide, we were able to generate the hundreds of letters and phone
calls necessary to pass the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law
and ensure that both our US senators support tough economic sanctions.

ROUNDTABLE NEWS

This month's Roundtable meeting will be held at the Unitarian Universalists 
Service Committee at 7:00 p.m. on November 12th in Cambridge at 130 
Prospect Street near Central Square.  Please contact Shalini Nataraj at 
(617) 868-6600 ext. 225 if you need further assistance.

Rob Fish, an activist in Maine, met with Jill M. Goldthwait, a Maine State 
Senator who is considering sponsoring a statewide selective purchasing 
bill in the Maine Senate.  Also, Kathy Born, Vice Mayor of the City of
Cambridge, 
expressed interest starting local selective purchasing legislation.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

On December 11, 1996, the Reebok Human Rights Awards will be held in
Boston.  A Burmese will be one of the award recipients.  Invitations to the
event will be sent to everyone on the Burma Roundtable list.

On December 22, 1996, a talk about Burma issues will be held at the Ethical
Society of Boston.  Several Roundtable participants will be guest speakers.

Marcia Poole of the BBC World Service, Burmese section, will be in
Boston in December and may speak at our December Roundtable meeting.

The Buddhism in America Conference will be held on January 17-19 in Boston.  
Gary Dmytryk is planning a table on Burmese activism.  If you can donate 
time or money (the table costs $250), please contact him at (617) 491-1197.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY  students are planning to work on local selective
purchasing legislation in Cambridge.  Please contact Marco Simons at 
msimons@fas.harvard.edu

BOSTON COLLEGE  students will challenge their school's contractual ties to 
PepsiCo. They are currently  initiating education and awareness activities and 
hope to proceed with engaging the administration in serious dialogue concerning 
their ties to "Burma businesses," given their Jesuit commitment to social
justice.  
For more information, please contact Rob Matthews matthero@bc.edu

Other Campus Burma Action Groups:

TUFTS UNIVERSITY: Kathy Polias, kpolias@emerald.tufts.edu
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS: Nannette  Skiba, 
9120nskib@umbsky.cc.umb.edu
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY: Miriam Leibowitz, st931523@pip.cc.brandeis.edu
SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY: Jonah, (617) 788-0630

ACTION!
Please continue to write President Clinton and voice your support for
sanctions legislation - each letter makes it more likely the Administration 
will impose economic sanctions once the election is over.

President William Clinton
The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20500
(202) 456-1414

----------------------------------------------------

FBC: NOTES FROM HIGH SCHOOL FREE BURMA ACTIVISTS
October 1995-October 1996

American high school activists are playing a growing role in the Free Burma 
Coalition.  They have been involved in boycott Pepsi campaigns, information
dissemination, and the October Free Burma Fast.  Many high school students 
get their entire families involved in the Free Burma movement, asking them to 
not buy Pepsi products or eat at restaurants owned by Pepsi.  Even 
grandparents participate, clipping articles on Burma from newspapers
and magazines to send to their grandchildren.

Below are some notes from High School activists which give a sense of their 
interests and commitment.
-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Chris Roberts <cnr1@cyberearth.mscl.msstate.edu>
Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 
Subject: Re: Free Burma

I got interested in all this when I saw the movie Beyond Rangoon. I was at a
friends house watching it, they are from Cambodia, and they said that stuff
like that really does happen. I have never had a movie move me so much, the
night I got home after watching it, I was just lying in bed thinking about
it and wondering what I could do. A few days later, I searched the web and
found the Free Burma site.

- Chris
--------------------------------------------------------------

From: <DanMcGill@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 1996
Subject: Support from Northern Virginia

Dear Free Burma Coalition:

My name is Sarah McGill and I am a senior at Robinson High School in
Fairfax, Virginia.   I became fascinated with Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle for
democracy last year and was encouraged to find your Web site.   I missed
knowing about the Free Burma Fast by less than a month.   However, if you
plan to have any other such activity or could use some help in any other way,
please contact me at: DanMcGill@aol.com

Please contact me if you need any high school support.   I will let people know 
of the boycott on PepsiCo products and Texico.   Thank you and your Web Site 
is terriffic.

Sincerely,
Sarah K.McGill
--------------------------------------------------

From: JoE KermaN <jkerman@eagle.idcnet.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Apr 1996 20:09:26 -0500
Subject: hello

I am Joe Kerman a freshman at Fort Atkinson High School (Wisconsin). I am 
a student in Mr. Rick Loose's world geography class, and when the situation 
(in Burma and Pepsi's connection) was explained, our class flipped out!  

Some decided to never drink Pepsi again right on the spot!  We agree totally
and 
want to do as much as we can, but since we are only freshman all we can do is 
spread the word around to others.  So I am going to order some ban Pepsi
stickers 
if you know of anything else a class of 15 year old World Geography students can
do, I would appreciate it.  Thank you.  - JK
-------------------------------------------------

From: Cris_Otepka@dante.creighton.edu (Cris Otepka)
Date: 01 May 1996 
Subject: hey

ciao!  yeah, i would be interested in helping out.  One thing, though, I
should probably get rid of pepsico in my school, first--right?  yup--pepsico
is all over my school:  pepsi, ocean spray, fritolay.  i'm a senior in high
school and i have six days left!  should i approach the president of the
school (not of the stud. body, but of the school)?  one of my
teachers/friends wants me to start a schoolwide movement.
what steps shall i take?  i still have the (FBC) info you sent me.

-cris
------------------------------------------------------

Sender: stark@students.wisc.edu
Date: October 1995
Subject: (Madison) East High School Action

We've been holding demonstrations in our cafeteria every day this week
to protest Pizza Hut's week-long presence, with a table chock full of
anti-PepsiCo signs, Burma literature, and copies of two petitions, one to
be sent to C.E.O. Sinclair asking for a complete pull-out from Burma, and
another to be given to the Madison School Board, asking them to adopt a
Selective Purchasing Ordinance regarding Burma. Today we had a Burmese 
student speak before a class of about 30, most seemed interested as well as 
impressed, and we got a few more signatures at our lunch demonstration. 
Along with the Free Burma groups at Madison West, Shabazz, and Memorial, 
we hope to bring our petitions and our case before the School Board later 
this month.

--East Students for a Free Burma
---------------------------------------------

From: caliban@earthlink.net (Dave Nabti)
Date: Thu, 2 May 1996
Subject: Student Activists for Burmese Liberation

The talk (by a Burmese student) and movie about Burma at Branner Hall, in 
Stanford, was fascinating and informative.  Several of our small group, Student 
Activists for Burmese Liberation, were there to hear it.  What we are is a small
group of high school students from Gunn and Palo Alto High Schools working
to get legislation passed in the Palo Alto government to limit, and eventually 
cease to make contracts with corportions that perform business operations in 
Burma.  So far, we have had only mild support from the city council members.  
One council member said that he would present a motion to put us on the 
agenda, but we have not found someone to second the motion. Any information 
that FBC could give us to help our situation would be greatly appreciated.

Dave Nabti
-------------------------------------------------

From: <AllBright4@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996
Subject: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

     I am a high school student doing in-depth research on Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi and Burma's struggle for democracy. Any help you could give, either
suggestions for my research or personal knowledge would by greatly
appreciated as e-mail to AllBright4 @ AOL.
                       Thank you very much!
--------------------------------------------------------

From: <KIMS@LFHS.LFC.EDU>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 10:54:27 +0600

I have recently started a group at my high school that combines
human and animal rights. Our objectives are to inform people and to
take direct action on this knowledge. Our first attempt is to help
out with the situation in Burma. All this week we have been doing
research and onto next week on Sept 25 we are organizing a meeting to
inform the student body of the situation in Burma.

Susannah Kim
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: cyclic@mediacity.com (Dave Rubin)
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 1996
Subject: Burma Hungerstrike

My name is Zan Rubin, I am a high school student in Palo Alto, Ca. I work 
with the Bay Area Action Schools Group.  If you could send me some
information about the hunger strike in October that would be great.  Also,
if you have any ideas for a campaign we could work on that would be great too.
                        Zan Rubin
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: yhl@juno.com (Yu-Hsuan Lee)
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996
Subject: About Pepsico

Hi,.  If you remember me, I was the 14 y/o participant at the International 
Political Activism Training Seminar in DC this summer.  I was wondering, 
what exactly is Pepsi doing is Burma?  I know they have a partnership with 
SLORC, but what are they doing in that partnership.  Also on the Webpage, 
there was a response to the letter FBC sent to PepsiCo.  It sounded like Pepsi 
pulled out of Burma, is this correct? Thanks for clearing all this up for me.  
Please respond soon.
- Yu-Hsuan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: VNTN54D@prodigy.com (MISS VICKY M CHIU)
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996
Subject: Re: Free Burma national fast coordinating committee

I forgot to tell you that I go to an all-girls Catholic school which
is more liberal than most but still very strict.  Especially the
administration are very difficult to deal with.  For example, I
started AI (Amnesty International) last year but this year, we're 
still not even listed in print as an activity.  I really don't have a clue 
as to how to approach the principal (a nun) about the (Free Burma) 
fast and its purposes. Could you please give me a few tips?

thanks,
vicki