USTPAC welcomes protests against clothing 'Made in Sri Lanka'

19 Sep '09

4 min read

USTPAC sources explained that "Protestors hope that American corporations will begin to move their production of clothing to other countries which, unlike Sri Lanka, do not commit serious human rights abuses. GAP and Victoria's Secret are two primary American corporations who purchase and sell garments made in Sri Lanka, thus helping the Sri Lankan government fund its military. Accordingly, these two corporations have been targeted as part of a larger boycott campaign against products made in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has tried to sell its garments under the slogan 'Garments Without Guilt' because of its labor conditions, but that slogan does not take into account the treatment of the Tamils on the island generally and the job discrimination against Tamils in the garment factories." Signs displayed by the protesters said, "Big GAP in ethics: Boycott blood garments made in Sri Lanka," and another directed at Victoria's Secret said, "the secret is out... Don't fund Genocide, don't buy garments made in Sri Lanka."

The Tamil American organization explains: "Consumers who purchase products made in Sri Lanka enable the Sri Lankan government to continue to violate the basic human rights of its Tamil citizens. In order to call attention to Sri Lanka's brutal treatment of 300,000 Tamils in the concentration camps and prevent further violations, protestors are asking consumers to make the right choice against genocide by checking the label and not purchase products made in Sri Lanka."

US Tamil Political Action Council

More Apparel/Garments News - United States Of America...