Burlington Coat Factory, the largest retailer of coats in the United states with over 300 retail stores, has announced that it will no longer buy and sell merchandise made in Burma because of the human rights situation there. It has been stocking a significant volume of wearing apparel made in Burma, including name brands like Karl Kani, Rocawear and Rafaella.
The announcement made last Friday, November 22 comes after months of campaigning by the Burmese pro-democracy activists.
U Aung Din, Director of Policy and Strategy at the Free Burma Coalition (FBC) - the Washington-based Burmese pro-democracy group - says the campaign enlightened the company that its business dealings prop up the Burmese military dictatorship notorious for its human rights violations and use of forced labor.
Burlington Coat Factory becomes the 34th company to cut business ties with Burma.