Bra protest for Myanmar plant

The barbed wire bra campaign has been launched to urge consumers to boycott the company's products

LONDON, England -- A global campaign has been launched against a European lingerie-maker, urging British consumers to boycott the firm until it closes its factory in Myanmar.

At the centre of the campaign is a barbed wire bra, an image the protesters say represents Triumph International's disregard for human rights in this Southeast Asian nation.

Myanmar has long been blasted for its rights record, with advocate groups slamming the country for denying its citizens freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement.

The protesters, led by The Burma Campaign UK, argue that foreign investments help finance Myanmar's oppressive rule.

"Foreign companies and Burma's (Myanmar's) dictators are becoming richer, whilst Burma's oppressed people grow ever poorer," the group's statement said.

Over the last decade, a growing number of global corporations have left Myanmar because of mounting pressure by human rights groups.

These companies include British Home Stores, Liz Claiborne, C&A, Ericsson, Heineken, Phillips, Levi Strauss, Apple, Pepsi Cola, Reebok and Fosters.

Triumph International said garments produced in its plant in Myanmar, which opened in 1996, are sold only in Asia.

The factory is located on an industrial estate called Pyin-Ma-Bin, north of Rangoon, which is rented from the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEH).

In a letter to the protesters earlier this year, Triumph said the campaign was politically motivated and it was concerned about dismissing over 1,000 of its workers in Myanmar.

Triumph: 'Safe conditions'

Triumph International, a Swiss-based multinational company, is one of Europe's main retailers of lingerie with an annual turnover of $1.6bn and 30,000 staff worldwide.

A number of other multi-national corporations have also yet to decide about operating in Burma.

The companies include Premier Oil (UK), Orient Express/Sea Containers (UK), Unocal (US), Total (France), Mitsubishi (Japan), Suzuki (Japan), British American Tobacco (BAT) and Triumph International (German).

Most of the companies face on-going public campaigns against them.

According to official statistics released by Myanmar's military regime, the country has attracted US$7.39 billion of foreign investment from 1988 until the end of August 2001.

Triumph released a statement defending conditions in its Myanmar factory. "The Triumph factory in Myanmar is built to European standards and offers our employees safe and modern working conditions," it said.

"The factory is operated within the Triumph code of conduct therefore no child or enforced labour is employed.

"In keeping with the whole Triumph International Group, the welfare of our employees is of paramount importance."