[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7408-S7409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RENEWAL OF SANCTIONS AGAINST BURMA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a few moments ago, the Senate voted to 
renew sanctions against one of the worst regimes in the world, the 
regime

[[Page S7409]]

that runs Burma. The situation in Burma is dire. Suu Kyi and the other 
NLD prodemocracy leaders remain in prison; a crackdown on democracy 
activists continues; and the SPDC's--that is the name the military 
thugs who run the country have given themselves--inhumane policies of 
child and forced labor, rape as a weapon of war, narcotics, human 
trafficking, and the use of child soldiers remains unchanged.
  The swift passage of this resolution, which we did a few moments ago, 
matches words of support for freedom in Burma with concrete actions. It 
is past time to judge the military regime in Burma not by what it says 
but by what it does. The junta misled governments throughout the region 
into thinking that the May 17 constitutional convention would be a step 
forward in the reconciliation process, but it was not. The convention 
was nothing more than a summer camp for the sycophants of the military 
regime.
  I am pleased our allies are increasing pressure on the junta. The 
European Union recently cancelled the Asia-Europe meeting because of 
Burma. It is an important step in the right direction. The EU should 
consider additional sanctions against the military regime.
  More must be done. The U.N. Security Council should take up Burma for 
a discussion and for sanction and ASEAN should abandon the outdated 
policy of noninterference in member states' affairs.
  One common subject must remain and that is the full and unfettered 
participation of Suu Kyi and the NLD, her political party, and ethnic 
minorities in a meaningful reconciliation process. I have two words for 
the regional neighbors of Burma: ASEAN 2006. That is the year Burma 
takes over chairmanship. That is 2 short years from now, which would 
result in a tremendous loss of face for that association.
  Despite their worst efforts over the past 14 years, the SPDC has 
failed to smother the flames of freedom in Burma. I continue to be 
inspired by reports of activists who bravely and nonviolently defy the 
junta's illegitimate rule, like the handful arrested last month for 
distributing pamphlets in several Burmese townships marking the 1-year 
anniversary of the Depayin massacre.
  It would be wise for the SPDC to accept the time-tested fact that Suu 
Kyi and the NLD are not going anywhere. They, and the ethnic 
minorities, are an integral part of the solution to the Burmese 
problem.
  To wit, the NLD and their supporters made the courageous and correct 
decision to boycott the sham SPDC-orchestrated constitutional 
convention last month. I am pleased that international condemnation by 
the United States, United Nations, European Union and regional 
neighbors of the hollow convention was rightly aimed at the SPDC. The 
generals in Rangoon made any number of assurances to foreign diplomats 
that the process would be inclusive. It clearly was not.
  This only underscores the imperative to judge the SPDC not by what it 
says but by what it does.
  The convention turned out to be nothing more than a summer camp for 
SPDC sycophants. According to the Washington Times, the junta required 
their handpicked delegates to ``bathe at reasonable times, avoid junk 
food and live in self-contained camps where they can enjoy karaoke, 
movies and golf.''
  Import sanctions by the United States alone will not help facilitate 
a meaningful reconciliation process in Burma. We need the U.N., E.U., 
and regional neighbors to fully commit to the cause. This was made 
clear by the NLD in a recent plea to U.N. General-Secretary Kofi Annan 
to ``take this matter to the Security Council''.
  The U.N. should help the NLD and the people of Burma by examining the 
clear and present danger Burma poses to the region. This must include 
narcotics production and trafficking, the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout 
the region, the gross human rights violations of the SPDC, the plight 
of Burmese refugees and IDPs, and alarming reports of the junta's 
interests in North Korean missiles and Russian nuclear technology.

  The E.U. should help the NLD and the Burmese people by examining its 
sanctions regime and imposing further punitive measures against the 
junta. I am pleased that our allies in the E.U. recently canceled the 
upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM, dialogue in Brussels over the 
attendance of the SPDC. The junta has no place at this multilateral 
table.
  Regional neighbors should help the Burmese people buy reconsidering 
the Association of Southeast Asian Nation's, ASEAN, outdated policy of 
noninterference in the internal affairs of member states.
  Asian leaders must recognize the regime for what it is, wholly 
illegitimate to the people of Burma, the international community and 
the region. The SPDC's export of illicit drugs and HIV/AIDS is, 
literally, burying the children of Asia. All of Asia's youth, not only 
those in Burma, face a future that is undermined by Burmese-spread 
drugs and disease.
  The region cannot ignore the fact of the junta's chairmanship of 
ASEAN in 2006. There could be no greater loss of face for that 
association than being under the guidance of the SPDC.
  Let me close by thanking all 53 of my colleagues who joined me in 
sponsoring the sanctions resolution. I want to recognize in particular 
the efforts of Senators Feinstein and McCain and their respective 
staffs to support freedom and justice in Burma. The Burmese people have 
no greater friends in the Senate, or in Washington. I also appreciate 
the efforts by Senators Grassley and Baucus and their respective staffs 
to expedite consideration of the legislation.
  I would be remiss if I did not note the words of support of the NLD 
made by former Mongolian Prime Minister Tashika Elbegdorj, the Same 
Rainsy Party in Cambodia, and the cross-party Burma Caucus formed by 
Malaysian parliamentarians. Although they are engaged in their own 
efforts, and, in some cases, struggles, for democracy and human rights 
in their respective countries, they stand in solidarity with the people 
of Burma.
  I encourage other neighbors to find their voice in support of the Suu 
Kyi and the NLD during these troubling times.
  I thank the 53 cosponsors of this resolution, in particular Senators 
Feinstein and McCain. Burma has no better friends in Washington than 
Dianne Feinstein and John McCain.
  I also appreciate the efforts of Senators Grassley and Baucus and 
their respective staffs to move the bill in an expeditious manner.
  I ask unanimous consent that a letter from Secretary of State Colin 
Powell indicating the State Department's support for the continuation 
of the sanctions we earlier today imposed with our vote in the Senate 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                       The Secretary of State,

                                   Washington, DC, April 30, 2004.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Chairman, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Committee on 
         Appropriations, United States Senate.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to reaffirm the State 
     Department's support for the continuation of the restrictions 
     on imports from Burma, as I stated in my testimony before the 
     Senate Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations on 
     April 8. Our sanctions represent a clear and powerful 
     expression of American disapproval of the developments in 
     Burma. This action is a key component of our policy in 
     bringing democracy and improved human rights to Burma, as 
     well as supporting the morale of Burmese democracy activists.
       I support wholeheartedly passage of the Joint Resolution 
     you introduced along with Senator Feinstein. Thank you for 
     your leadership on this issue.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Colin L. Powell.

     

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