[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONDEMNING BURMESE GENERAL THAN SHWE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the recent 
harassment and intimidation of Burmese citizens carried out by General 
Than Shwe and his military regime. Various attacks have been committed 
under his command against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the 
National League for Democracy (NLD). This is yet another example of how 
Than Shwe's regime continues to employ terror and brutality as a means 
of retaining power over the Burmese people.
  While traveling outside of Rangoon recently, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 
convoy was attacked by members of the Union Solidarity and Development 
Association (USDA), the political arm of Than Shwe's military regime. 
Yielding machetes, hundreds of USDA members forcibly stopped the 
convoy, surrounded it, and beat on the doors with their fists and other 
objects.
  Mr. Speaker, in Burma's most recent election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi 
and the NLD were elected to represent the people of Burma winning 82 
percent of the seats in parliament. But Than Shwe has refused to honor 
their will and let those who have been legitimately elected govern. His 
military regime continues to systematically abuse the human rights of 
the Burmese people through its campaign of torture, imprisonment, 
forced child labor, and murder.
  Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the democracy movement have never resorted 
to the use of violence despite the savage treatment it receives. In 
fact, for her peaceful efforts to bring about change, Daw Aung San Suu 
Kyi has won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Sakharov Prize, and the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, we must continue to support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the 
NLD while at the same time increasing political pressure upon Burma's 
military regime. Democracy must be restored to this country. I would 
like to thank President Bush for his strong statement to this effect 
last April and I urge my colleagues to join in this effort.

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