[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 97 (Thursday, July 12, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S7583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BURMA MILITARY PURCHASES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the illegitimate regime in Rangoon has 
once again shown its true colors. On this bright, sunny morning in 
Washington, I want to draw the attention of my colleagues to gathering 
storm clouds in Southeast Asia.
  According to Jane's Defence Weekly, Burma's State Peace and 
Development Council, SPDC, has signed a contract to purchase 10 MiG-29 
fighter aircraft from the Russian Aircraft-building Corporation. These 
fighters were built in the early 1990s and are being stored at the 
Lukhovitsy machine-building plant. The total cost of the 10 MiGs to the 
SPDC is $130 million, 30 percent of which will be paid up front and the 
balance settled over the next decade.
  This purchase is troubling for several reasons, and underscores that 
despite its name the SPDC is neither committed to peace nor the 
development of Burma. Thailand--and the United States--should be 
concerned with the acquisition of these aircraft, which boosts the 
junta's capabilities well beyond the 42 Chengdu F-7M and Nanchang A-5C 
currently sitting on Burmese runways. Tensions between the Thais and 
the junta have already spilled over into exchanges of gunfire and 
mortars; an escalation to an air war would be destabilizing to the 
entire region. China may be the only country to view the sale in a 
positive light, as it strengthens the military capability of one its 
staunchest allies in the region.
  From drug dealing to the forced use of child soldiers, the Burmese 
military has distinguished itself as a world's leading violator of 
human rights and dignity. This purchase serves as evidence that the 
regime is committed to remaining in power at any and all costs. The 
international community must now double its efforts to ensure that even 
greater human rights abuses are not waged against the innocent people 
of Burma by the military, which is corrupt to the core.
  The acquisition of MiG fighters adds 10 more reasons why the United 
States should view skeptically the discussions between Rangoon's thugs 
and thieves and Burma's legitimate leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The 
contract with Russia sends a signal that despite all the rhetoric and 
few prisoner releases, the talks may be hollow. What meaningful 
concessions can the generals make to Suu Kyi if they are arming 
themselves?
  The $130 million contract--and where is that money coming from, Mr. 
President?--demonstrates yet again that the junta has not made the 
welfare of the people of Burma a priority. From an escalating HIV/AIDS 
crisis to forced labor practices, the junta has yet to demonstrate the 
political will to tackle the hardships the Burmese face every day.
  Finally, the sale is an indication that the Russians are willing to 
sell military hardware to anyone, anywhere. We can add Burma to the 
growing list, which includes Iran and North Korea, of Russian client 
countries.

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