[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    TIME FOR REGIME CHANGE IN BURMA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2002

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate September 
18th, 2002, the 14 year anniversary of one of freedom's great 
tragedies. On this day in 1988, a military regime assumed power in the 
country of Burma during a brutal crackdown, slaughtering approximately 
10,000 nonviolent demonstrators in the streets of Rangoon and 
throughout the nation over a period of months. Were these demonstrators 
committing some crime? Had they broken the law of the land? Were they 
planning some heinous act of treason?
  The answer is no on all three counts--they did not, had not, and were 
not.
  The people of Burma are guilty only of sacrificing for the same 
dreams that have summoned greatness in men and women alike throughout 
history: freedom, democracy, and human rights. As Burma's 1991 Nobel 
Peace Prize recipient Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said, ``. . . even under 
the most crushing state machinery courage rises up again and again, for 
fear is not the natural state of civilized man.''
  September 18th, 1988 was not only a tragedy, however. It was also a 
day of great hope. Since 1988, the Burmese people's courage has never 
for one instant waned or even cooled. In 1990, despite harassment, 
arrest, and intimidation, the National League for Democracy was voted 
into power with an astounding 82% of the seats in parliament. We 
members of Congress, as elected officials, in particular should 
understand the uniqueness of this victory. I know most of my colleagues 
in this building would do anything for that kind of mandate. In 1991, 
1996, and 1998, the people of Burma and the National League for 
Democracy demanded recognition of this election with demonstrations and 
party gatherings that resulted in widespread arrests and subsequent 
torture. And, in August of this year, Burmese students again took to 
the streets in Rangoon, calling for the release of all of Burma's 
political prisoners.
  We know from our own history that the struggle for freedom is not 
easy nor is it without sacrifice. The sudden rush of change might come 
at any time, whether through the crumbling of a wall or a crowd's 
deafening cry for democracy in the streets. We do know, however, that 
the United States of America has always stood for the principles that 
our nation was founded upon, and we will continue to support those that 
share our dreams.
  Burma's military regime should be put on notice that the United 
States will neither forget September 18th, and what it represents for 
the Burmese people, nor tire in our belief in freedom. Most 
importantly, the regime should also know that many of us in the United 
States Congress are growing weary of the constant stalling and delaying 
of a full-scale political dialogue that includes Burma's ethnic 
nationalities. Now is the time for change in Burma and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in calling for that change.

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