[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 136 (Wednesday, October 16, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S10564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BURMA

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to add my voice to the growing 
chorus in Washington condemning the State Peace and Development 
Council's brutal and inhumane treatment of the people of Burma--
including refugees and internally displaced persons.
  We recently heard from the senior Senator from Kentucky, Senator 
McConnell, who has been a consistent, strong voice for human rights and 
democracy in Burma. He spoke of the many abuses committed by the SPDC 
and his concerns that the SPDC's proclaimed interest for reconciliation 
with the legitimate leaders of Burma--led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 
the National League for Democracy--ring hollow.
  I am in complete agreement with his assessment.
  It is past time for the SPDC and its armed forces to respect the 
human rights and dignity of the people of Burma and to punish those in 
the military who are responsible for killing and injuring innocent men, 
women and children.
  I was appalled to learn this week that Burma Army Column Commander 
Khin Mau Kyi, who is reportedly responsible for burning churches and 
villages and torturing pastors and Buddhist monks, said. ``I don't 
respect any religion, my religion is the trigger of my gun.''
  Mr. President, Khin Mau Kyi's so-called ``religion'' is, according to 
information I have received, responsible for the murder of the 
following people at Htee Law Belh on April 28, 2002: Saw Hto Paw, Naw 
Hsar Kay, Naw Kri Htoo, Naw Ble Po, 5 years old, Daw Htwe Ye, Naw Mu 
Tha, Mu Pwat Pwat, 7 year old, Saw Ka Pru Moo, Naw Plah, 5 years old, 
Naw Dah Baw 2 years old, and Naw Pi Lay and her infant.
  The State Department should publicly condemn the SPDC for these 
atrocities, and call on the SPDC to investigate these crimes and bring 
those responsible to justice. Unfortunately, there is no reason to 
believe the SPDC will act against its own officers.
  We and the international community should do our utmost to provide 
assistance to the SPDC's victims. In the days to come, I will confer 
with my friend from Kentucky on appropriate actions we can take to help 
refugees and internally displaced persons in Burma, including 
engagement with Thailand to ensure that Burmese fleeing SPDC abuses can 
enter into Thailand, that international journalists are given free and 
unfettered access to refugee camps and ethnic minorities, and the UN 
High Commissioner For Refugees is allowed to provide a safe haven for 
those fleeing SPDC oppression.

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