*Special* US Campaign for Burma News Update US Members of Congress are increasingly frustrated with Burma Issue Thursday, November 6, 2003 Quotes of the day: “Let me be blunt - that effort and the effort of the UN envoy designated to carry it out has failed."--Joseph Crowley, United States Congress (D-NY) "We need to take a serious look at the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General’s special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismael. Are his efforts hampering or helping the struggle for freedom in Burma?"--Peter King, United States Congress (R-NY) "... we must be cognizant that the process has failed. We need to strengthen the authority of the UN envoy and replace him with someone capable of rallying international support for change..." --Lane Evans, United States Congress (D-IL) Editor’s note: This is a special news update with some important news. US Members of Congress are increasingly frustrated with the constant, repeated failures of the United Nations Secretary General's special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismail. For that matter, they are also frustrated at the entire failed United Nations process in Burma. Several raised their voices on this matter yesterday in the House of Representatives. They state that the talks process in Burma is completely dead and call for a new, beefed up United Nations initiative that includes the UN Security Council. We are sharing their comments with you below. =========================================================== 1. Congressman Peter King (R-NY) 2. Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN) 3. Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) 4. Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) 5. Congressman Joseph Pitts (R-PA) 6. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) =========================================================== 1. Congressman Peter King (R-New York) Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I cosponsored the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 with my good friend, Congressman Tom Lantos, ranking member of the International Relations Committee. That legislation passed the House by a vote of 418-2, providing a strong mandate for the U.S. State Department to rally international support for Burma's struggle for freedom. I am proud of the support the House of Representatives has given to the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her struggle for freedom in Burma. Over the past 2 weeks, Burma's military regime has again launched a brutal crackdown against dissent. When 900 Buddhist monks marched on the streets of Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, the regime reacted violently, opening fire on the crowd and killing at least one monk and placing several more in intensive care. At the same time, this regime instigated violence against the country's Muslim population, resulting in the torching of several homes and the murder of innocent civilians. I am concerned that the international community has remained too
silent. We need to take a serious look at the efforts of the United
Nations Secretary General's special envoy to Burma, Razali Ismael.
Are his efforts hampering or helping the struggle for freedom in
Burma? Burma's exports of narcotics and refugees, ongoing human
rights abuses present a serious threat to regional security yet
this has never been addressed by the United Nations Security Council.
Maybe it is time that a new envoy and a new approach by the United
Nations will breathe new life into a =========================================================== 2. Congressman Mark Souder (R-Indiana) Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the continuing and deeply troubling situation in Burma. Last week over 900 Buddhist monks marched through the streets of Mandalay. The military thugs ruling Burma responded by shooting, beating, and smoke bombing the demonstrators. Unfortunately, news of this latest affront to peace and democracy has not reached a wide audience. With limited exception, the plight of the people of Burma and its duly elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi are never reported in the press. There is no doubt as to the ruthlessness and brutality of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The evil dictators continue to rape, enslave, imprison, and murder innocent civilians from every ethnic group. Despite talk about democracy and road maps toward peace and civilian rule, we have seen no tangible and positive steps in that direction. Their actions betray their real motives and goals. For the past few years, the United Nations has undertaken a process of trying to convince Burma's military regime to engage in a dialogue with the legitimate leaders of Burma. We must recognize that the United Nations process, as it has played out, has failed. The efforts at gently persuading the Burmese regime to move in a positive direction while simultaneously warding off international pressure have been fruitless. The United Nations must re-evaluate its policies and Burmese strategy. U.N. pronouncements on Burma have not told the world of the full situation in Burma. They have not condemned the military for its actions. We need to find a new U.N. envoy to Burma and give this person the authority to rally international pressure against Burma's military regime. Although the United States and a number of other nations have increased the pressure on the SPDC, we must encourage other nations, particularly Burma's neighbors, to end their support of the current regime. India must be made aware that $57 million lines of credit to the regime and doubling Indo-Burmese trade do not help promote democracy and human rights in Burma. Thailand must be told that increasing cross border contacts with the Burmese government will not bring democracy to Burma, stem the flow of refugees across the border, nor end the trade in illegal narcotics currently being supported by the Burmese military. Freedom will come to Burma. The United States must assist the Burmese forces for freedom and democracy. We must do so sooner, not later. =========================================================== 3. Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-New York) Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to express my frustration with the ongoing situation in Burma. For the past three years, the United Nations, with the full support of the United States, has attempted to spur talks between 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi's political party the National League for Democracy, Burma's ruling military regime, and the country's ethnic groups. Let me be blunt--that effort and the effort of the U.N. envoy designated to carry it out has failed. It has failed mainly because the regime refuses to participate in the talks. While the regime promises, as it has for the past fifteen years, to make a transition to democracy, there is absolutely zero evidence to suggest that this is true. To make matters worse, the regime has been attacking and killing the very people they are supposed to be talking to. In May of this year, the regime attacked and killed scores of Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters. Just last month, the regime attacked and killed members of the Karen ethnic group. And, just a few days ago, the regime opened fire on a demonstration of Buddhist monks, killing one and injuring many more. We need to breathe new life into this United Nations process, and that will require a serious diplomatic effort. To start with, we need a new United Nations special envoy for Burma--the present envoy's efforts have failed and he as of late has done nothing more than provide political cover for the regime. Second, we need the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Burma. Third, the State Department must unequivocally reject ``roadmaps'' that have been promised by the Burmese regime and their Thai counterparts. I believe that democracy is possible in Burma, and we agree with Secretary Powell when he said that we need to rally international support to stand up to Burma's ``thugs''. We need to move quickly to ensure that these words are acted upon. =========================================================== 4. Congressman Lane Evans (D-Illinois) Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address the current state of affairs in Burma. For years, Burma's military rulers have retained control through the use of rape, murder, torture, and imprisonment. Many of my colleagues and I co-sponsored the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, H.R. 2330, in an effort to sanction this regime for its egregious human rights violations and to shed light on the atrocities being committed. Another action taken to help bring about change in Burma was the assignment of a United Nations envoy to this chaotic region. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues and I now feel that the United Nations process put in place to help bring about change in Burma is seriously flawed. The UN envoy to Burma has done more to diffuse international pressure on the junta than he has to improve human rights conditions there. Conditions are not improving, they are worsening. Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the country's true government, remains under house arrest while the people of Burma are being slaughtered. Just a few days ago, members of Burma's military regime shot at a crowd of demonstrating monks, killing at least one and injuring many more. In addition, Thailand, Burma's neighbor, has become increasingly friendly with the SPDC, the regime responsible for this bloodshed. Thai authorities deport Burmese migrant workers and other refugees with little concern for their welfare, turning a blind eye to the oppression that awaits them and in violation of international law. The UN has done little to change the relationship between these two nations. As we approach the next meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, we must be cognizant that the process has failed. We need to strengthen the authority of the UN envoy and replace him with someone capable of rallying international support for change. The present system is not working--let's fix it. =========================================================== 5. Congressman Joseph Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask once again, what more must happen in order for the international community to take deliberative, decisive action against the ruthless military dictatorship in Burma? Why would any country befriend this savage dictatorship that has no qualms about engaging in slave labor, systematic rape of women, destruction of villages, and murder of many innocent civilians? The U.N. Security Council should act, not only because of the regional security problems related to Burma, but also because of the regime's horrific human rights abuses. The abuses have caused a humanitarian disaster as hundreds of thousands of people have fled across Burma's borders in almost every direction. The military's brutal campaigns have created between 600,000 and 1 million internally displaced people, innocent men, women and children who live hiding in the jungles of Burma, as they fear further attacks. Mr. Speaker, the U.S., the U.N. Security Council, the international community should act now to stop the atrocities. Oppose the blockage of humanitarian aid, bring an end to the suffering of the people of Burma, and address the regional security problems from this regime. =========================================================== 6. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) CRACKDOWN IN BURMA -- (House of Representatives - November 05, 2003) Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask all freedom-loving people to pay attention to the latest crackdown in Burma by that country's brutal military regime. A few days ago, the military again reminded us why Burma has one of the most despicable regimes in the world, by cruelly cracking down on a demonstration by Buddhist monks. Over 900 monks took to the streets, calling for freedom and democracy. These people, who are dedicated to peace themselves, found themselves the targets of not only water guns but of brutal beatings. One of them was killed. Four have been put in intensive care. It is time for the people of Burma to join the Buddhist monks and
to rise up against their tyrants. It is time for the people in the
Burmese Army to rise up and turn their guns against the military
regime that has destroyed freedom in their country and led their
country into such deprivation and poverty, the regime that is stealing
from their own people and giving their country to the Communist
Chinese, and it is up |
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