[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 78 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MISSED OPPORTUNITIES IN BURMA?

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, leave it to the repressive generals 
in Rangoon to miss an opportunity to secure peace and reconciliation in 
Burma. I am referring to today's BBC article entitled ``Burma Renews 
Suu Kyi Isolation.''
  I want to be very clear to the repressive State Peace and Development 
Council (SPDC), the Administration, and the international community--
particularly Japan--that the level of engagement with the hard liners 
in Rangoon should be conditioned on concrete, political progress 
following Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's release. Intimidating and punishing 
any Burmese who meets with democracy leader Suu Kyi--as has already 
occurred--or continuing to restrict her movements is wholly 
unacceptable and must not be tolerated.
  The State Department made a grave mistake in allowing a Burmese 
colonel to visit Washington last month. The regime exploited this 
mistake when it touted in a press statement: ``This was our first 
conversation at this level with American authorities since 1988.'' We 
should not allow an illegal military junta to spin our intentions--or 
our policy.
  It is my expectation that the junta will allow Suu Kyi and the 
National League for Democracy to conclude its assessment of Burma's 
humanitarian needs before moving forward on any new programs or 
initiatives. Restricting Suu Kyi's access to U.N. offices in Rangoon 
serves no logical purpose.
  Those of us who have long championed freedom and democracy for the 
people of Burma must be vigilant in the days, weeks, and months ahead. 
It is premature for the Washington--or any other foreign capital--to be 
considering ``rewards'' for the SPDC: 1,500 political prisoners have 
yet to be released; forced labor continues unabated; ethnic 
nationalities suffer horrific human rights abuses; and, dialogue 
between the NLD and the regime has not resumed.
  The State Department would be wise to withhold requests to Congress 
for expanding narcotics cooperation with the Burmese--including the use 
of training facilities in Thailand--lest they be guilty of premature 
jubilation in Burma.
  As I wrote to President Bush last month, the SPDC should be judged 
not by what they say, but rather by what they do. It does not look like 
the tiger in Burma has changed its stripes.

                          ____________________