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Human Rights Campaign and Feminist Majority Foundation, have joined hand to protest against the state of Brunei's newly implemented Sharia penal code, mobilizing approximately 2 million of their members to spread the messages of boycott against the Sultanate. By comparison, Brunei has a population of 0.4 million. Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is among the top 3 feminist group in the United States dedicated to women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence, while Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest LGBT civil rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the country.





Feminist group says it is now allied with LGBT in boycotting Brunei



In addition, FMF is also pulling its annual Global Women's Rights Awards from the Beverly Hills Hotel after discovering the hotel’s owner, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, is set to impose a penal code that includes the stoning to death of gay men and lesbians, and the public flogging of women who have abortions. The draconian laws will be implemented in three stages over three years beginning May 1. FMF says that is what prompted it to join forces with LGBT groups and international community in protest. Instead, it will now hold a demonstration in front of the hotel on May 5.



FMF has launched a massive social media petition entitled #StopTheSultan calling on the Sultan of Brunei and his government to rescind the new code. The women's rights organization is also asking the United Nations to take action should the laws go into full effect. "We cannot hold a human rights and women's rights event at a hotel whose owner would institute a penal code that fundamentally violates women's rights and human rights," said FMF President Eleanor Smeal in a press release. Instead, FMF will hold the gala event co-chaired by Jay and Mavis Leno at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.





Brunei made rare headline across feminist websites



"The 'kill-a-gay' laws, or laws that allow the flogging of women for abortion, violate international law and have no place in civilized society," FMF Board Member Mavis Leno said. One of the most disquieting of the new codes calls for gay men and lesbians and people convicted of adultery to be stoned to death. Another permits the public flogging of women who have abortions, and a third would jail women who become pregnant outside of marriage.



FMF and its magazine, Ms., are launching a petition drive among millions of women across America calling for mass boycott on Brunei. In the United States, public opinion polls consistently reveal majority support for feminists and 56% of all women said they considered themselves feminists. The group also call for economic sanctions against Brunei. "The United Nations must condemn the government of Brunei's plans and explore additional options, including sanctions, if Brunei fails to rescind this decree," added Kathy Spillar, executive editor of Ms. and the event director.





Feminists suggest economic sanctions be placed on Brunei



The United Nations has since condemned the laws as a gross breach of international human rights contrary to international law and is scheduled to conduct its Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of the country this week. Amnesty International has also said the laws, which legalize cruel and inhumane punishments including stoning to death, whipping and amputation, made a mockery of the country's alleged commitment to human rights.



Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei controls the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), which owns a collection of ultra-luxurious five star hotels in the United States and Europe, collectively known as the Dorchester Collection Properties. These properties, worth billions, are the most valuable foreign assets of Brunei. They are now subjected to boycotts from feminists, LGBT and human rights groups. The Sultan also possesses a collection of 7,000 supercars with a combined estimated value of US$5 billion, that is one-quarter of Brunei's GDP.





The Sultan's car collection translates into one-quarter or 25% of Brunei's GDP



BIA manages Brunei's reserves and is the equivalent of Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Unlike Temasek however, who invested heavily in the development of Singapore and currently contributing to around 10% of its GDP, BIA invests mainly in overseas real estate and hotels that are favored by the royal family. For example, when a group of unspecified Bruneian royalty visited Los Angeles in 2011, two floors of the Beverly Hills hotel are said to have been emptied to make room for their entourage with guests being moved to other hotels plus compensation.



In the early 1990s, BIA had a total investment assets of US$100 billion. Due to a series of mismanagement this has now fallen to US$40 billion, which is a drop of 60%. By contrast, Singapore's Temasek, incorporated in 1974 with an initial portfolio of S$354 million, now has a total assets of SG$215 billion (US$171 billion), that is an increase of 60,635%. Singapore has another investment vehicle known as GIC, which is estimated to hold around US$200-300 billion in investment assets.





Brunei: A wealthy state with developmental level of Cambodia



During the 2007 court battle between the Sultan and his brother Prince Jefri, in what is the most expensive family feud in legal history, the Prince exposed to the courts of London that the Sultan secretly transferred US$8 billion of state money into his personal bank account to bankroll his lifestyle. Court proceedings also released a 50-page list of monetary gifts to hundreds of those lucky enough to be the beneficiaries of the Sultan's largesse. The total bill was £19.5 billion.



The gifts included £1.26 million to his badminton coach, £1.25 million for acupuncture and massage, £50,000 on guards for his collection of exotic birds. His five-strong PR team, who promoted the good image of the Sultan worldwide, collected a total of £29.3 million. And two housekeepers were each paid around £7 million. Court battle with his brother cost a total £200 million. In addition, there is a £15,000 per month haircut. Altogether, translating to US dollar it was US$33 billion. In 2013, the amount of money allocated to develop Brunei was B$1 billion (US$0.80 billion). That is around 41 years of development budget.





An abandoned building in the middle of capital Bandar Seri Begawan reveals the state of Brunei's economic stagnation



A British legal source said: "I don't think the Sultan would have planned for this information to be made public. The figures we are dealing with are absolutely mind-boggling." The prince personally blown through US$14.8 billion from a government oil investment fund he was purportedly overseeing. At one point he was spending US$50 million a month. The two soon reached a settlement and further information is no longer released. The Sultan and his brother Prince Jefri have made up and the two are now seen together in Bruneian public events.



HRC, on its parts, sent letters to the Aviva Family and Children's Services, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Cedars-Sinai Medical Hospital's Helping Hand of Los Angeles, Colleagues Helpers in Philanthropic Services, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, the Partners in Care Foundation, and Teen Line in collaboration with Sony Pictures, all have events scheduled at the Beverly Hills Hotel over the next month, to relocate their venue.





The LGBT communities out in action against hotels owned by Brunei



"There are a number of hotels and venues in the Los Angeles area that aren't owned by foreign leaders and governments that allow for the execution of its LGBT citizens. We're encouraging members of the LGBT community and our allies to consider those options instead of the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air - which are part of the Sultan's Dorchester Collection. In addition, we're calling on organizations that have upcoming events scheduled at these hotels to move them to other locations. "I have attended various events at both hotels over the past several years. But given the extreme nature of these developments, I feel strongly that we in the LGBT community and our allies should take our business elsewhere," said HRC President Chad Griffin.



HRC has a PAC (Political Action Committee) wing, which lobbies Congress and state and local officials for support of pro-LGBT bills, and mobilizing grassroots action amongst its members. It is expected to utilize this to influence politicians. Already, Lili Bosse, the mayor of Beverly Hills, where the hotel is located, announced today that she will ask the Beverly Hills City Council on Monday to pass a resolution telling the Sultan to divest himself of his Beverly Hills hotels and condemning the laws he is implementing. Given the circumstances however, no one is expected to buy the hotel unless it is sold at a firesale price.





SOS:



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sult...ls-hotel-276513



http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/...a-event-sultans



http://www.wehoville.com/2014/05/02/hrc-jo...ly-hills-hotel/



http://www.businessinsider.com/prince-jefr...11-6#!IwRta



http://www.bt.com.bn/legco/2012/03/18/legc...ses-5-2b-budget



http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/feu...2941063396.html



http://feministmajority.org/take-action-wi...iban-like-laws/



http://chicagophoenix.com/2014/05/01/hrc-b...y-stoning-laws/



http://lgbtweekly.com/2014/05/02/hrc-calls...ltan-of-brunei/



This post has been edited by rivost: May 5 2014, 11:22 AM

Two of America's biggest non-profit advocacy group,and, have joined hand to protest against the state of Brunei's newly implemented Sharia penal code, mobilizing approximately 2 million of their members to spread the messages of boycott against the Sultanate. By comparison, Brunei has a population of 0.4 million. Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) is among the top 3 feminist group in the United States dedicated to women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence, while Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the largest LGBT civil rights advocacy group and political lobbying organization in the country.In addition, FMF is also pulling its annual Global Women's Rights Awards from the Beverly Hills Hotel after discovering the hotel’s owner, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, is set to impose a penal code that includes the stoning to death of gay men and lesbians, and the public flogging of women who have abortions. The draconian laws will be implemented in three stages over three years beginning May 1. FMF says that is what prompted it to join forces with LGBT groups and international community in protest. Instead, it will now hold a demonstration in front of the hotel on May 5.FMF has launched a massive social media petition entitled #StopTheSultan calling on the Sultan of Brunei and his government to rescind the new code. The women's rights organization is also asking the United Nations to take action should the laws go into full effect. "We cannot hold a human rights and women's rights event at a hotel whose owner would institute a penal code that fundamentally violates women's rights and human rights," said FMF President Eleanor Smeal in a press release. Instead, FMF will hold the gala event co-chaired by Jay and Mavis Leno at the Hammer Museum in Westwood."The 'kill-a-gay' laws, or laws that allow the flogging of women for abortion, violate international law and have no place in civilized society," FMF Board Member Mavis Leno said. One of the most disquieting of the new codes calls for gay men and lesbians and people convicted of adultery to be stoned to death. Another permits the public flogging of women who have abortions, and a third would jail women who become pregnant outside of marriage.FMF and its magazine, Ms., are launching a petition drive among millions of women across America calling for mass boycott on Brunei. In the United States, public opinion polls consistently reveal majority support for feminists and 56% of all women said they considered themselves feminists. The group also call for economic sanctions against Brunei. "The United Nations must condemn the government of Brunei's plans and explore additional options, including sanctions, if Brunei fails to rescind this decree," added Kathy Spillar, executive editor of Ms. and the event director.The United Nations has since condemned the laws as a gross breach of international human rights contrary to international law and is scheduled to conduct its Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review of the country this week. Amnesty International has also said the laws, which legalize cruel and inhumane punishments including stoning to death, whipping and amputation, made a mockery of the country's alleged commitment to human rights.Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei controls the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), which owns a collection of ultra-luxurious five star hotels in the United States and Europe, collectively known as the Dorchester Collection Properties. These properties, worth billions, are the most valuable foreign assets of Brunei. They are now subjected to boycotts from feminists, LGBT and human rights groups. The Sultan also possesses a collection of 7,000 supercars with a combined estimated value of US$5 billion, that is one-quarter of Brunei's GDP.BIA manages Brunei's reserves and is the equivalent of Singapore's Temasek Holdings. Unlike Temasek however, who invested heavily in the development of Singapore and currently contributing to around 10% of its GDP, BIA invests mainly in overseas real estate and hotels that are favored by the royal family. For example, when a group of unspecified Bruneian royalty visited Los Angeles in 2011, two floors of the Beverly Hills hotel are said to have been emptied to make room for their entourage with guests being moved to other hotels plus compensation.In the early 1990s, BIA had a total investment assets of US$100 billion. Due to a series of mismanagement this has now fallen to US$40 billion, which is a drop of 60%. By contrast, Singapore's Temasek, incorporated in 1974 with an initial portfolio of S$354 million, now has a total assets of SG$215 billion (US$171 billion), that is an increase of 60,635%. Singapore has another investment vehicle known as GIC, which is estimated to hold around US$200-300 billion in investment assets.During the 2007 court battle between the Sultan and his brother Prince Jefri, in what is the most expensive family feud in legal history, the Prince exposed to the courts of London that the Sultan secretly transferred US$8 billion of state money into his personal bank account to bankroll his lifestyle. Court proceedings also released a 50-page list of monetary gifts to hundreds of those lucky enough to be the beneficiaries of the Sultan's largesse. The total bill was £19.5 billion.The gifts included £1.26 million to his badminton coach, £1.25 million for acupuncture and massage, £50,000 on guards for his collection of exotic birds. His five-strong PR team, who promoted the good image of the Sultan worldwide, collected a total of £29.3 million. And two housekeepers were each paid around £7 million. Court battle with his brother cost a total £200 million. In addition, there is a £15,000 per month haircut. Altogether, translating to US dollar it was US$33 billion. In 2013, the amount of money allocated to develop Brunei was B$1 billion (US$0.80 billion). That is around 41 years of development budget.A British legal source said: "I don't think the Sultan would have planned for this information to be made public. The figures we are dealing with are absolutely mind-boggling." The prince personally blown through US$14.8 billion from a government oil investment fund he was purportedly overseeing. At one point he was spending US$50 million a month. The two soon reached a settlement and further information is no longer released. The Sultan and his brother Prince Jefri have made up and the two are now seen together in Bruneian public events.HRC, on its parts, sent letters to the Aviva Family and Children's Services, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Cedars-Sinai Medical Hospital's Helping Hand of Los Angeles, Colleagues Helpers in Philanthropic Services, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, the Partners in Care Foundation, and Teen Line in collaboration with Sony Pictures, all have events scheduled at the Beverly Hills Hotel over the next month, to relocate their venue."There are a number of hotels and venues in the Los Angeles area that aren't owned by foreign leaders and governments that allow for the execution of its LGBT citizens. We're encouraging members of the LGBT community and our allies to consider those options instead of the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air - which are part of the Sultan's Dorchester Collection. In addition, we're calling on organizations that have upcoming events scheduled at these hotels to move them to other locations. "I have attended various events at both hotels over the past several years. But given the extreme nature of these developments, I feel strongly that we in the LGBT community and our allies should take our business elsewhere," said HRC President Chad Griffin.HRC has a PAC (Political Action Committee) wing, which lobbies Congress and state and local officials for support of pro-LGBT bills, and mobilizing grassroots action amongst its members. It is expected to utilize this to influence politicians. Already, Lili Bosse, the mayor of Beverly Hills, where the hotel is located, announced today that she will ask the Beverly Hills City Council on Monday to pass a resolution telling the Sultan to divest himself of his Beverly Hills hotels and condemning the laws he is implementing. Given the circumstances however, no one is expected to buy the hotel unless it is sold at a firesale price.SOS: