Monday, May 4, 1998
Don’t let Arco continue support for brutal regime
FAST: Military leadership in Burma still receiving support from
corporation
By Elizabeth Rogers
At sunrise on May 3, I and many others in Los Angeles will be
joining people in more than 25 cities across four countries in a
three-day fast to support human rights. I will eat no food and
drink only water until sunset on May 5 as a protest to the Arco
Corporation’s continued support of the brutal military junta in the
Southeast Asian nation of Burma.
Burma is currently ruled by one of the most brutal regimes on
the planet. The regime’s widespread use of murder, torture, rape,
forced labor and forced relocation has been widely documented by
sources such as the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and
Amnesty International. In 1988, more than 6,000 peaceful
demonstrators were massacred in the streets by the military
regime.
Two years later, in response to international pressure, the
regime held elections. However, when the democratic forces – led by
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi – won the elections,
capturing 82 percent of the legislative seats, the military regime
canceled the election results and placed Aung San Suu Kyi under
house arrest.
Similar to what happened with South Africa in the 1980s,
corporations who continue investing in Burma help to prop up the
brutal military regime. The democratically elected leadership of
Burma (never allowed to take power) has repeatedly called on
corporations to withdraw from Burma until democracy is
achieved.
Arco Corporation, based in Los Angeles, is one of the main
corporate sponsors of the military junta in Burma. The company has
spent more than $55 million on gas exploration in Burma and has
given more than $13 million directly to the regime. This money goes
to buy more guns and expand the size of the army.
Already, dozens of corporations have withdrawn from Burma in
response to public pressure, and because they understand the
connection between foreign investment and the strengthening of the
military regime.
Upon withdrawing in 1992, Levi-Strauss stated that "it is not
possible to do business in (Burma) without directly supporting the
military regime and its pervasive violations of human rights."
The "Arco Out of Burma – 3-Day Fast" is a response to Arco’s
refusal to listen to the will of the Burmese people. It is timed to
coincide with Arco’s annual shareholders meeting, which will be
held on May 4 in Los Angeles. In response to protests by students
at Occidental College, college president and Arco board member John
Slaughter recently released a public statement saying he opposes
the company’s continued investment in Burma. People throughout the
world are standing with the Burmese people in their fight for
democracy. Companies like Arco are standing against them.
We urge you to wear green armbands during the fast to show your
support for the people of Burma. Also, call Arco at (213) 486-3511
and urge them to withdraw from Burma immediately. Finally, we urge
you to attend a demonstration outside the Arco shareholders meeting
on May 4 at 9 a.m., at Arco Plaza, 515 S. Flower in downtown Los
Angeles. Call the Environmental Coalition at (310) 206-4438 if you
have any questions.