| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2000 |
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Wal-Mart: World Outlet for the Products of Oppression Brutal repression, widespread human rights violations and a government tied to drug thugs has brought international condemnation of the country's dictatorial regime. But the record of the Burmese military dictators was not enough, apparently, to keep Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, from stocking its shelves with garments made in Burma. Since December 1999, Wal-Mart Canada has imported almost 70 tons of garments from Burma. Despite Wal-Mart claims that it broke its Burma connection in January of this year, records show continued imports from Burma to Wal-Mart as recently as May. On July 13, 2000, Wal-Mart was identified in a Thai newspaper as buying garments from a factory owned by Burmese drug thug, Lo-Hsing-han. Ever Green Overseas garment company, owned by Lo-Hsing-han is one of three Burmese companies that have shipped garments directly to Wal-Mart over the last year. Wal-Mart claims it does not do business with Burma. Burma's drug thugs and military dictators are tied together in an economic and political alliance of repression and exploitation. The International Labor Organization (ILO) has condemned Burma for "widespread and systematic" violations of the prohibition on the use of forced labor. Burma has been censured for allowing the modern-day practice of slavery. Drug money and revenue from trade relations with few multinational corporations has kept the regime firmly in place, and riding on the backs of an increasingly impoverished population. The United States imposed sanctions on Burma in 1997 barring all U.S. investment in the country citing that the country is governed by a "highly authoritarian military regime that is widely condemned for its serious human rights abuses." The State Department points to "money from the trafficking of illicit narcotics" as the likely primary source of income for the rogue nation. -more- As the world's largest retailer and a dominant economic force in the apparel industry, Wal-Mart's trade with the military-controlled country threatens workers' rights. "Wal-Mart should immediately sever all ties with Burma and companies that trade with Burma. Consumers should not be forced to subsidize drug thugs through purchases at Wal-Mart," said Mike Leonard, Vice President and Director of Strategic Programs for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). Wal-Mart claims it passed a corporate policy to end trade with Burma, but has taken no action to remove Burmese garments from its shelves nor to cease purchases from third-party vendors who do business with Burma. In fact, Wal-Mart does business with Hampton Industries, a supplier that imports from Burma. According to SEC filings, Wal-Mart has accounted for up to 15% of Hampton Industries' business. Other major importers of Burmese-produced garments?Sutton Creations, Global Gold, Stretch-O-Rama, Cherry Stix and By Design?continue to supply Wal-Mart with apparel. Regardless of whether Wal-Mart is purchasing Burmese products from these companies, the retail giant should cease business relationships with all vendors that trade with such rogue nations as Burma. "We are putting workers and consumers on alert to email, telephone and tell Wal-Mart [letters@wal-mart.com] --take Burmese products off your shelves," continued Leonard. In light of the recent action by the ILO against Burma's widespread forced labor, the UFCW is calling on Congress to toughen sanctions against Burma and block all imports into the U.S. "Allowing companies like Wal-Mart to sell products made under forced labor conditions overseas is an insult to American workers. We fought the Civil War to end slavery and we cannot stand by and let the products of foreign slavery fill the shelves of our retail establishments," said Leonard. The UFCW is the largest organization of retail workers in North America, with 1.4 million members. -30- To read more, click here |
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