18 June 2003
Craner Calls on Asian Nations to Take Responsibility for Burma
(Assistant Secretary of State's June 18 Senate testimony) (1960)
"Our worst fears for democracy in Burma have been realized," Assistant
Secretary of State Lorne W. Craner told the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee June 18.
Craner, who heads the State Department's Bureau for Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor, said the ruling military junta's "orchestration of
the ambush of (Burmese democracy leader) Aung San Suu Kyi and her
supporters on May 30 and their refusal to account fully for what
happened that day leaves no room for debate."
Suu Kyi, who had been kept under house arrest by the junta for years,
was detained once again following the May 30 attack on her motorcade
by a group linked to the ruling military junta.
Along with members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party,
the Nobel Peace Prize recipient had been traveling the country to
rekindle support for democracy in Burma. It is not clear how many
people were killed or injured in the clash.
"The junta calling itself the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC) rules through fear and brutality with complete disregard for
the rule of law, basic human rights, and the hopes and welfare of the
Burmese people," Craner said.
"Their recent actions make clear the depths to which these thugs will
sink to retain power," Craner continued.
"Our response will be equally clear," he promised.
Craner said the State Department is increasing pressure on the SPDC by
extending U.S. visa restrictions to cover all officials of the junta's
political arm, an organization known as the Union Solidarity and
Development Association (USDA), as well managers of state-run
enterprises.
In addition, he said the State Department is working on measures such
as freezing the financial assets of SPDC members, banning remittances
to Burma, and placing restrictions on travel to the country.
The United States, he noted, is also considering a ban on Burmese
imports, and already votes against loans to Burma from international
financial institutions like the World Bank.
"But to be truly effective Burma's neighbors must join us in
increasing the pressure on the SPDC," Craner said.
"It is time that Asian countries take responsibility for the actions
of the Burmese junta that destabilize the region and smear the
reputation of regional institutions like ASEAN (the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations)," he said.
Craner said the United States recognizes ASEAN's recent statement in
favor of Burmese national reconciliation "as a good first step," and
supports the group's plans to send a troika delegation to Rangoon.
"The international community should pull together as never before to
put an end to the unchecked abuse perpetrated by this illegitimate and
brutal junta," Craner said.
"The generals must learn that such appalling behavior will deny them
the benefits of participation in the global community and eventually
will deny them the ability to maintain the power they stole from the
legitimate democratic leadership of Burma in 1990," Craner said.
Following is the text of Craner's June 18 testimony, as prepared for
delivery:
(begin text)
Human Rights Problems in Burma
Testimony by
Assistant Secretary Lorne W. Craner
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Bureau
U.S. Department of State
At a hearing entitled
Review of the Development of Democracy in Burma
By the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
June 18, 2003
Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important and timely hearing.
It is with a feeling of outrage and disgust that I appear here today
because tomorrow a courageous champion of democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi,
will be spending her 58th birthday in detention. The Burmese junta
must release Aung San Suu Kyi immediately and resume a dialogue with
the opposition quickly to formulate with them a plan for
democratization in Burma. In light of the recent outrageous events in
Burma, I will be updating you on the State Department's current
strategy to respond to these events and reiterating this
Administration's unwavering commitment to support the long-suffering
people of Burma as they battle for democracy, improved human rights,
and freedom. Both the President and the Secretary of State have taken
a personal interest in Burma. Many of my comments will reiterate those
of the Secretary in his recent opinion editorial in the Wall Street
Journal.
Our worst fears for democracy in Burma have been realized. We have
always doubted the sincerity of the junta's claim to desire a peaceful
transition to democracy. Now, we know our doubts were justified. Their
orchestration of the ambush of Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters on
May 30 and their refusal to account fully for what happened that day
leaves no room for debate. The junta calling itself the State Peace
and Development Council (SPDC) rules through fear and brutality with
complete disregard for the rule of law, basic human rights, and the
hopes and welfare of the Burmese people. Their recent actions make
clear the depths to which these thugs will sink to retain power. Our
response will be equally clear.
We commend the bipartisan efforts of members of Congress to shine a
spotlight on the human rights problems in Burma. We also commend the
Senate for passing the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act sponsored by
Senator Mitch McConnell, who has always been a great advocate for
liberty in Burma. The State Department supports the goals and intent
of this bill. We are working on several actions to increase pressure
on the SPDC.
Already, we have extended our visa restrictions to include all
officials of a puppet organization of the junta - the Union Solidarity
and Development Association (USDA) - and the managers of state-run
enterprises so that they and their families can be banned as well. The
United States already votes against loans to Burma from international
financial institutions like the World Bank.
In addition to our existing tough sanctions, we are now working on
freezing the financial assets of members of the SPDC and banning
remittances to Burma. We are also considering an import ban. Finally,
we hope to place restrictions on travel to Burma.
As we strengthen our own set of sanctions, we do so in conjunction
with the European Union. They are implementing their own strengthened
common position which will extend an asset freeze and visa
restrictions to leaders of the USDA and managers of state-owned
companies. But to be truly effective Burma's neighbors must join us in
increasing the pressure on the SPDC. It is time that Asian countries
take responsibility for the actions of the Burmese junta that
destabilize the region and smear the reputation of regional
institutions like ASEAN. The Secretary is currently having frank
discussions at the ASEAN Regional Forum with both members of ASEAN and
other countries in attendance, including China. ASEAN loses
credibility when it allows one of its members to flout its previous
commitments to the organization. It is time for member countries to
act decisively and firmly to address the problems in Burma that affect
their region. We recognize their recent statement in favor of national
reconciliation as a good first step and support their plans to send a
troika delegation to Rangoon.
The SPDC's renewed campaign of violence and repression against the
National League for Democracy (NLD) and Aung San Suu Kyi shows the
junta's blatant disregard for the basic rights of the Burmese people
and the desire of the international community to see those rights
protected. The most recent crackdown is just one link in a long chain
of appalling behavior toward the people and the nation the military
regime claims to be protecting. The SPDC's disregard for human rights
and democracy extends to every conceivable category of violation. The
junta suppresses political dissent by censorship, persecution,
beatings, disappearances and imprisonment. It harasses ethnic
minorities through brutal campaigns against civilians. It sharply
curtails religious freedom. It subjects its people to forced labor. It
recruits children to serve in the military and then brutalizes them.
The litany of abuse endured by civilians in ethnic minority regions is
especially deplorable. We remain deeply troubled by widespread and
brutal rapes, torture, murders, forced relocations, forced labor,
confiscation of property and suppression of religious freedom in
villages in the Shan, Karen, Kayah, Mon, and Rakhine States and in
Tenasserim Division. The violation of the basic human rights of these
minority peoples has devastating effects on individuals, their
families and communities but also has regional and international
implications.
The widespread use of forced labor by the SPDC, including the forced
conscription of children into the army, has been an ongoing concern to
the United States and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Forced labor is one of the most egregious violations of worker rights.
Since the ILO's request to its constituents in December 2000 that they
review their relations with Burma in light of the system of forced
labor, it has been trying to work with the SPDC to eliminate forced
labor. But as the ILO liaison officer in Burma said recently, forced
labor continues to be a serious problem especially in border areas
controlled by the military. Our recent report on Trafficking in
Persons sheds further light on the problem and the Burmese regime's
insufficient response.
The SPDC has tried to appease the international community through slow
increases in the level of cooperation with the ILO, but this has yet
to lead to any serious action to combat the problem. In May, the SPDC
and the ILO agreed on a plan of action to eliminate forced labor,
which if implemented in good faith could have begun to produce some
substantive progress. But the International Labor Conference decided
in June that the climate of uncertainty and intimidation created by
the events of May 30 did not provide an environment in which the plan
could be implemented in a credible manner. Forced labor is yet another
area that the SPDC continues to evade its responsibility to protect
the basic rights of the people of Burma and shows disdain for the rule
of law.
Throughout Burma, there is no freedom of association, no freedom of
expression, no freedom of the press. Well over 1,000 political
prisoners languish in Burma's jails and the arrests and unlawful
detentions continue. In addition to Aung San Suu Kyi, at least 100 NLD
supporters were detained, or are missing or dead after the incident in
late May. NLD leaders both young and old were targeted in this
assault. Today, we fear for the welfare of senior leader U Tin Oo who
reportedly was injured and whose whereabouts are still unknown. We
have not forgotten, nor will we forget any of these brave individuals
who put their lives on the line over the past two decades to stand for
justice, democracy, freedom, rule of law and the right to be heard.
We, together with the international community, have pressed for the
immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners at
every opportunity. We will continue to do so until every prisoner is
released to live a life in freedom and peace.
The State Department also will continue to report honestly and
accurately on the crimes of the SPDC in our reports on human rights,
religious freedom, and trafficking in persons and drugs. The truth
will not be hidden. The oppression of an entire nation must not stand.
The international community should pull together as never before to
put an end to the unchecked abuse perpetrated by this illegitimate and
brutal junta. The generals must learn that such appalling behavior
will deny them the benefits of participation in the global community
and eventually will deny them the ability to maintain the power they
stole from the legitimate democratic leadership of Burma in 1990.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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