[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING FOURTEEN YEARS OF TYRANNY IN BURMA

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                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 2002

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fourteen year 
anniversary of the mislabeled State Peace and Development Council's 
brutal takeover of power in Burma. In addition, I commend Nobel Peace 
Prize laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for her continued strength and 
leadership during this period of repression and illegitimacy in Burma.
  After legitimately winning Burma's 1990 election, Suu Kyi was placed 
under house arrest in Rangoon. Recently, she was released from house 
arrest, however, nearly 1,500 political prisoners remain in Burmese 
prisons for their peaceable opposition to the SPDC's illegitimate rule. 
Meanwhile, as many as one million Burmese citizens, many of whom are 
children, are forced to build roads, military installations, and 
railroads for the junta.
  Over thirty percent of Burma's children are malnourished, yet the 
illegitimate SPDC regime continues to spend billions of dollars on 
military equipment purchased from China and Russia. The SPDC regime 
fails to provide any substantial assistance for critical health care 
and educational programs in Burma, yet it continues to amass a 
dangerous military arsenal.
  Burma is a country of peaceful, intelligent and freedom-loving 
citizens, yet the brutal ruling junta has spent the last fourteen years 
crushing the will of the people. I join my colleagues in recognizing 
the fourteen year anniversary of the SPDC's hostile military takeover, 
and I commend Daw Aung San Suu Kyl's continued efforts to fight for 
freedom, democracy, and human rights.

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