05 June 2003
House Members Decry Crackdown on Democracy Advocates in Burma
(Members introduce legislation to sanction Burmese junta) (580)
By Stephen La Rocque
Washington File Staff Writer
The recent crackdown on democracy advocates in Burma has generated
strong criticism for the Rangoon regime in the House of
Representatives as well as legislation that, if passed, would sanction
supporters and members of the junta.
Representative Joseph Pitts (Republican of Pennsylvania), one of the
leading human rights advocates in the House of Representatives, called
on the Rangoon regime to release detained Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Aung San Suu Kyi and end its "dictatorship over the people of Burma"
in remarks to the House June 3.
"I was shocked and deeply disturbed by events over the weekend in
Burma, the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and the death of the
prodemocracy activists there," said Pitts, one of the co-sponsors of
H.R. 2230, proposed legislation that would sanction Burma's junta.
"The Government of Burma should release Aung San Suu Kyi and end its
brutal dictatorship of the people of Burma," he added.
The Burmese government says that Suu Kyi is in what it terms
protective custody, but "Burma's record of protecting its people is
highly suspect," Pitts said.
The people of Burma, he added, "have suffered for too long" from that
country's ruling group and from "campaigns of systematic rape, murder,
forced labor, destruction of villages, food sources, and a myriad of
other atrocities, including the deaths of many small children."
Pitts called on the international community and Burma's neighbors to
"press the Burmese military government to recognize the fact that the
people want freedom."
The regime in Rangoon, he went on, "must accept the legitimate
election of the National League for Democracy."
He called on the world community to "condemn the dictatorship's
actions."
Pitts urged the United States to take "deliberate, serious action to
help free" both Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese people.
"To the people of Burma, we stand with them," Pitts said.
Representative Mark Kirk (Republican of Illinois) said Burma's junta
has detained "many members of the National League of Democracy,
including Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi."
The Rangoon regime has also closed all universities, added Kirk, who
serves on the House Appropriations Committee.
Kirk told lawmakers that Aung San Suu Kyi "was beaten, and her
whereabouts are currently unknown."
The Illinois Republican commended Secretary of State Colin Powell for
speaking out against the Burmese actions, and urged fellow House
members to speak out on the issue, saying the Burmese authorities are
"turning back the clock on human rights."
Representative Dana Rohrabacher (Republican of California), another
co-sponsor of H.R. 2330, and a member of the House International
Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, said the Burmese
government, which he termed "one of the most brutal dictatorships in
history," has now put under arrest Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he described
as "one of the true heroes of freedom on this planet."
Rohrabacher added that while the Nobel Peace Prize recipient's
whereabouts are unknown, it is known that she is under arrest and that
democracy activists have been "murdered and brutalized."
Rohrabacher, who has visited Burma, said the Congress "needs to be
aware of what is going on in Burma, and we must warn the dictators in
Burma they will not get away with the dirty deed if they have touched
one hair on the head of Aung San Suu Kyi."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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