[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 117 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         14TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UPRISING OF THE BURMESE PEOPLE

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                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 17, 2002

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, today is the 14th anniversary of the 
uprising of the Burmese people against the drug dealing military 
dictatorship that rules their nation. On this solemn occasion we need 
to ask ourselves what we can do to help those brave people help 
themselves.
  The people of Burma and their elected leaders, Aung San Suu Kyi and 
members of the National League for Democracy (the NLD), have struggled 
for over a decade to bring an end to the military dictatorship. In 1991 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize for defying great odds 
in standing firm against this heinous regime. She has spent years under 
house arrest and hundreds of members of her political party, the 
National League for Democracy, have disappeared into Burma's notorious 
prison system.
  Fourteen years ago the Army slaughtered thousands in cold blood on 
the streets of Rangoon and imprisoned and tortured thousands more.
  The people of Burma believe that the people and the government of our 
great Nation stand strongly behind them. Today some governments in the 
world are struggling to decide whether or not to support the war 
against terrorism while they sponsor acts of domestic terrorism against 
their own citizens. We need to ensure that we keep the friends that we 
have by not making any deals with such governments as the Burmese junta 
or Chinese communists. By supporting the people of Burma over the 
totalitarian regime that is currently in power, we will not only help 
the people of Burma to help free themselves but we will be creating the 
good will in the future that will enable us to fight terrorism in that 
area of the world.
  Lately though, I have seen some news about Burma that greatly 
disturbs me. The military dictators have come knocking on the door of 
the United States asking for money for what they call humanitarian aid, 
while simultaneously spending $130 million on MIG fighter planes from 
the Russians. This is nonsensical. We should not waste American 
taxpayer money on aid money that encourages the regime to spend more on 
weapons. We should also not forget who has caused the humanitarian 
crisis in Burma and why. The regime is entirely responsible for the 
sufferings of the Burmese people; their lack of good governance--any 
form of governance--has resulted in a debacle of the public health 
sector.
  Even more disturbing than this, however, I have recently seen 
evidence that the military regime has sent its scientists to Russia to 
learn to build a nuclear reactor. The United States must do everything 
in its power to ensure this does not happen. The Burmese regime has 
proven repeatedly not only its callous brutality, but complete 
disregard for international opinion. Nuclear power in the hands of the 
Burmese dictators that terrorize their own people makes Southeast Asia 
and the world a more dangerous place.
  The United States and the international community ought to inform the 
Burmese junta that in no uncertain terms it should immediately begin 
full-scale political talks with the elected leaders of Burma, the 
National League for Democracy, and ethnic nationalities aimed at speedy 
transition to democracy. I have met many of the leaders of Burma's 
struggle for freedom myself and I can tell you they would be 
outstanding partners for the United States and the world. In the 
meantime, to ignore the threat posed by an armed, nuclear Burmese 
military regime would be a serious error.

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