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As “a private university with a public
responsibility” that turns “ideas
into action and action into service,” American
University has a history of commitment to social
justice. The university values equality and
dignity for all people.
Burma
(Myanmur) is currently at the center of the
world’s concern for human rights
and democracy. Burma’s ruling military
regime is intolerant of peaceful political
activity and has committed regular and significant
human rights violations, as has been documented
by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch,
and the U.S. Department of State. The regime’s
numerous and egregious human rights and political
abuses have kept from power the democratically
elected party of the National League for Democracy,
which won more than 80% of the vote in 1990
elections.
The
party leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi – recipient
of the Nobel Prize for Peace and of an honorary
degree from American University – has
called for international support for the wishes
of the Burmese people to have the current government
acknowledge democratic principles and stop
human rights abuses. Specifically, in her January
1997 commencement address at American University,
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said:
“I…call
upon those who have an interest in expanding
their intellectual capacity for
promoting intellectual freedom and humanitarian
ideals to take a principled stand against
companies which are doing business with
the military regime in Burma. Please
use your liberty to promote ours.”
WHEREAS
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, American University’s
honorary degree recipient, Nobel Prize Laureate,
and leader of the democratic movement in Burma,
has specifically called for economic sanctions
against the military regime in Burma; and
WHEREAS human rights organizations worldwide
have documented numerous human rights abuses
committed by the Burmese military government,
including forced labor, forcible relocation,
torture, rape, slavery, and the denial of a
democratically elected government; and
WHEREAS the United States government has
recently imposed sanctions on Burma in response
to its continued human rights abuses;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board
of Trustees of American University that the
university will:
1) Restrict institutional contracts and purchases
of products from companies conducting business
in Burma;
2)
Seek “Burma free” investments,
reserving the right to divest from companies
conducting business in Burma;
3) Urge companies conducting business in Burma
to seek alternatives to such business; to avoid
contracting with or purchasing from other companies
conducting business in Burma; and to encourage
other governing boards to pass resolutions
condemning the human rights violations of the
Burmese military government and to support
economic sanctions against Burma.
Investment and purchasing managers at American
University will be provided with a copy of
this policy statement.
Following a process of deliberation by students,
faculty, staff, and trustees, American University
now adopts these principles, which are in the
best tradition of this institution, to ensure
the principled conduct of companies with which
the university does business. We also call
on all other academic institutions to join
with American University in this action.
May 12, 1997
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