24 June 2003
McConnell Calls for International Support for Burmese Democracy
(Senator urges end to trade, diplomatic relations with Burma regime) (740)
Senator Mitch McConnell (Republican of Kentucky) says the best
birthday gift the world could give Burma's detained democracy activist
Aung San Suu Kyi would be condemnations of the regime that is holding
the Nobel Peace laureate.
In remarks to the Senate June 19, Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday,
McConnell called on the Bush administration to ban trade with the
Rangoon regime and downgrade its diplomatic relations with the
military junta ruling Burma.
McConnell, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, is the second most
powerful Republican in that body. Earlier this month, the Kentucky
Republican pushed through the Senate S. 1215, a wide-ranging sanctions
bill against Burma.
"The White House should not wait for the House to act on its
legislation but should implement a ban on imports immediately,"
McConnell urged.
While the House International Relations Committee successfully marked
up the House version of the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003
with two amendments June 12, H.R. 2330 still has to pass through the
House Ways and Means Committee, the House Financial Services Committee
and the House Judiciary Committee before reaching the floor for debate
and a vote.
Those three committees on June 17 granted an extension for further
consideration of the proposed bill, ending no later than July 7.
Besides the bill's sponsor in the House, Representative Tom Lantos
(Democrat of California), H.R. 2330 has 51 co-sponsors from across the
political spectrum.
Following is the text of the June 19 remarks of Senator Mitch
McConnell from the Congressional Record:
(begin text)
BIRTHDAY OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Senate
June 19, 2003
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on June 19, 1945, Burmese democracy
leader Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Rangoon, Burma, to Ma Khin Kyi and
Aung San.
Some speculate that she was destined to be a defender of freedom in
Burma, as her father was the commander of the Burma Independence Army.
Tragedy struck the family exactly 1 month after Suu Kyi's second
birthday when General Aung San was assassinated. The family's loss was
mourned by the entire nation.
As Burma's military leaders were to find out decades later, Suu Kyi
has freedom and justice coursing through her veins. She has been a
tireless advocate for the rights and welfare of the Burmese people and
has sacrificed--along with other Burmese democrats--much in struggle
for democracy in Burma.
Suu Kyi is a symbol of courage and determination for the world's
oppressed. She is a shining example that principles are stronger than
repression. Suu Kyi and other democrats have yet to surrender to the
State Peace and Development Council, SPDC, despite relentless attempts
by the junta to bend and break their will.
How is Suu Kyi celebrating her 58th birthday? Most likely, she is not.
I suspect she is alone and in Insein prison.
In the wake of a violent ambush by the junta on her convoy on May 30,
Suu Kyi was arrested by the SPDC. Although U.N. Special Envoy Razali
briefly saw her 2 weeks ago--and conveyed to an anxious world that she
was not physically injured in the attack--we haven't seen or heard
from her since.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, requested a
meeting with Suu Kyi, but the thugs in Rangoon refused. Unbelievable,
outrageous--but not surprising considering the regime's track record.
It should not be lost on anyone that the denial of an ICRC visit means
Suu Kyi is being treated worse than a prisoner of war.
The best gift the free world can give Suu Kyi on her birthday is a
full court press on the junta. Sanctions, import bans, and statements
condemning the SPDC's outrageous actions will help buoy the spirits of
the Burmese people and confirm that the international community is on
their side.
The best gift the administration can give Suu Kyi is an import ban and
the downgrading of diplomatic relations with the SPDC. The White House
should not wait for the House to act on its legislation but should
implement a ban on imports immediately.
Finally, the best gift I can give Suu Kyi is a commitment to continue
to stand with her and the people of Burma for as long as it takes for
freedom's triumph. She and her compatriots continue to be in my
thoughts and prayers.
(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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