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Burma's Regime Poses Democratic and Security Challenges

07 February 2006

State's Hill, Lowenkron cite human rights abuses, junta's failing policies

By Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Burma's ruling military junta poses a security concern to the country's immediate neighbors and the broader region, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill.

"Burma's neighbors have particular reason to be concerned, because many of the country's growing problems will not stay within its borders," Hill warned.

Hill spoke February 7 in testimony before the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee and the Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations Subcommittee of the House Committee on International Relations.

The Burmese government's economic policies have severely hurt the economy, which remained stagnant in 2005.  Inflation might have risen as much as 50 percent, Hill said.

Citing the regime's failure to devote resources to health and education, the assistant secretary said HIV infections are on the rise and there are high rates of tuberculosis and malaria.

Burma could have unreported cases of avian influenza in both poultry and humans, which would have global health implications, Hill said.

"Burma remains the world's second-largest producer of opium, and production of amphetamine-type stimulants is on the rise," he said, adding 90 percent of the heroin in Southeast Asia comes from Burma.

In separate testimony, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Barry Lowenkron cited forced labor, trafficking in persons, the use of child soldiers and religious discrimination as serious human rights concerns in Burma.

The regime's use of forced labor is particularly common in regions with ethnic and religious minorities, Lowenkron said, and the military has persecuted Muslim and Christian communities in Burma's western China state. (See related article.)

Trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation, factory labor and as household servants continues unabated, Lowenkron said.  Most are sent to Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan and countries in the Middle East, he said.

The State Department's 2005 Trafficking in Persons report lists Burma as a Tier 3 country -- a country that fails to take significant actions to bring itself into compliance with minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. (See related article.)

According to Hill, the United States' long-term goal for Burma is the emergence of a unified, democratic and independent nation in which the government respects human rights of its citizens and promotes policies that contribute to the well-being of the Burmese people and regional peace and prosperity.

CALL FOR RELEASE OF BURMESE DEMOCRACY LEADER

Hill and Lowenkron both called on Burmese authorities immediately to release pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners, initiate a credible and inclusive political process, grant access for U.N. representatives and lift restrictions on U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations providing humanitarian relief.

Lowenkron said the Burmese government's January 31 session of the National Convention to draft a new constitution was "lacking credibility" since the regime hand-picked delegates, barred the participation of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other pro-democracy parties and did not allow delegates to debate freely.

The regime wants to redraft Burma's Constitution in such as way as to nullify the results of the legitimate 1990 elections - during which the NLD, followed by the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, won the majority of seats, Lowenkron said.

Additionally, the United States calls for greater involvement from the international community to help reverse the deteriorating situation in Burma, he said.

"We will continue to press hard for further U.N. Security Council discussion and action on Burma," Lowenkron said.  The United States, he added, plans to support strong resolutions in the U.N. General Assembly as well as other international bodies.

He called for the U.N. secretary-general to name another U.N. special envoy to Burma and to give the envoy a broader mandate to enhance coordination with the international community to gain support for pressing the Burmese regime to change.

Hill also cited increased U.S. diplomatic efforts with India, China, Japan and the10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to define steps the regime needs to take to address the international community's concerns.

Since 2000, the State Department has administered more than $16 million through the National Endowment for Democracy to focus on democracy and human rights activities, including capacity building for NGOs in exile and collection of information on human rights, Lowenkron said.

One such program involves $650,000 for training Burmese journalists and other media professionals; the United States also has provided $325,000 in scholarships for 200 Burmese students to universities, he said.

“The United States will also continue to monitor and annually report on human rights in Burma, and describe our efforts to support human rights and democracy there,” Lowenkron said.

For more information on U.S. policies, see U.S. Support for Democracy in Burma.

The text of Hill’s remarks to the panel is available on the State Department Web site.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)