[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8401-H8403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CALLING ON THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO IMMEDIATELY CONSIDER
AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO RESPOND TO THE GROWING THREAT THAT THE
RULING STATE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IN BURMA POSES TO THE
SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION AND TO THE PEOPLE OF BURMA
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 768) calling on the United Nations Security
Council to immediately consider and take appropriate action to respond
to the growing threat that the ruling State Peace and Development
Council in Burma poses to the Southeast Asia region and to the people
of Burma.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 768
Whereas the ruling State Peace and Development Council in
Burma, formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration
Council, continues to refuse to uphold the 1990 election
results in which the National League for Democracy, led by
Aung San Suu Kyi, won 392 of the 485 contested parliamentary
seats;
Whereas the ruling State Peace and Development Council in
Burma has imprisoned or placed under house arrest Aung San
Suu Kyi on a nearly continuous basis since 1995, most
recently since May 2003 when she and National League for
Democracy supporters were violently assaulted by government-
affiliated forces;
Whereas according to the Department of State's 2003 Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices, security forces of the
ruling State Peace and Development Council in Burma continue
to commit extrajudicial killings, rape, engage in torture,
forcibly relocate persons, use forced labor, and conscript
child soldiers;
Whereas in December of 2003 the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution expressing grave concern about
the ongoing systematic violations of human rights abuses
occurring against the people of Burma; and
Whereas the situation in Burma poses a threat to regional
stability because of the continuous cross border flow of
illegal narcotics, trafficked persons, and the unchecked
spread of HIV/AIDS; because of the State Peace and
Development Council's reported efforts to acquire military
hardware from the People's Republic of China, the Russian
Federation, and North Korea; and because of the destabilizing
effects of the flight of over 200,000 refugees to Thailand
and Bangladesh in an attempt to escape systematic terrorizing
by the Burmese military: Now, therefore, be it--
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that the United Nations Security Council
should immediately consider and take appropriate action to
respond to the growing threat that the ruling State Peace and
Development Council in Burma poses to the Southeast Asia
region and to the people of Burma.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo).
[[Page H8402]]
General Leave
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today Burma is ruled by one of the world's most brutal
military dictatorships. The State Peace and Development Council, the
SPDC, rules through an insidious system of extrajudicial killings,
rape, torture, conscription of child soldiers, and the use of modern
day slavery. To date, approximately 2 million Burmese have been
forcibly displaced because of the horrific policy of this regime.
Further, Mr. Speaker, the SPDC has arrested approximately 1,300
individuals for merely expressing critical opinions of the existing
regime, including the leader of the National League For Democracy, Aung
San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the U.S.
Presidential Medal of Freedom. My colleagues will also recall that her
party, the National League for Democracy, continues to be rebuffed from
claiming the right to govern, despite having won 392 of the 485
contested parliamentary seats in 1990.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 768 will put Congress on record that the United
Nations Security Council must take immediate action with regard to the
ruling regime in Burma. This regime poses a serious threat to the
regional stability of Southeast Asia. They have allowed the continuous
cross-border flow of illegal narcotics, trafficked persons, and the
unchecked spread of HIV/AIDS.
In addition, the SPDC has attempted to acquire military hardware from
the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and North
Korea.
Finally, the repressive nature of the Burmese regime has led to the
flight of over 200,000 refugees into Thailand and Bangladesh which, in
turn, has led to severe problems in those nations.
It is time for the United Nations Security Council to take action to
respond to the growing threat of Southeast Asia and the people of
Burma. With the United Kingdom and the United States chairing the
United Nations Security Council respectively in October and November,
we should use this opportunity to press for action by the Security
Council on Burma.
This resolution has strong bipartisan support, has 27 cosponsors,
including the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the chairman of the
Human Rights Caucus; and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos),
the Ranking Member of the Committee on International Relations.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, and I
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the Burmese government is one of the worst violators of
internationally-recognized human rights. Democratic leader Aung San Suu
Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, was thrown into prison after her 1990
electoral win and remains under tight house arrest.
About 5 years ago I was privileged to travel to Burma with a then
colleague Tom Campbell, a member from California, and we were able to
persuade the Burmese government to allow us to visit with Aung San Suu
Kyi, and we had a meeting with her and our U.S. embassy. She was very
defiant. She said she would remain under house arrest until the
government of Burma would recognize the election of 1990.
Countless other leaders in the opposition National League for
Democracy remain behind bars. Many of the elders who we met with were
defiant and were also considered enemies of the government.
High-level representatives from the United Nations and other nations
have tried for several years to encourage the Burmese government, the
Burmese junta to enter into a true national reconciliation with the
opposition. Sadly, the Burmese government has repeatedly rebuffed these
important diplomatic efforts. They simply seem to have no interest.
As a result, the United States recently renewed import sanctions
against Burma for another year and has continued to ratchet up
diplomatic and economic pressure on the government of Burma on this
terrible regime.
{time} 0300
But, Mr. Speaker, pressure from the United States on Burma to move
toward freedom and democracy will only bear fruit if our allies join us
in imposing sanctions.
The resolution before the House urges the United Nations Security
Council to consider and take appropriate action to respond to the
growing threat that the Burmese government poses to the Southeast Asia
region. Consideration by the Security Council of the situation in Burma
is long overdue, and I hope that this important resolution will further
encourage Security Council members to move forward with the concrete
multi-lateral strategy to promotes democracy and freedom in Burma.
It is another opportunity that the People's Republic of China who is
benefiting so much from normal trade relations with the United States,
previously called the special trade relations but now normal trade
relations, most favored nation status, that they had before and still
have, could use its influence and power in Burma since they are a
growing power in that area. The same way that we would urge the Chinese
to use its influence in the Security Council and its influence with
Sudan to urge that government to change its ways. And so this is an
opportunity for the People's Republic of China to show that it is
moving into the 21st century, into the new millennium with a new
responsibility if it, indeed, is going to continue to benefit from the
tremendous relations that it has with the United States.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 768, a
measure symbolizing the deep concern of the House of Representatives
with the deplorable situation in Burma.
Burma presents one of the most complicated and vexing foreign policy
challenges in Asia for the United States and the world community.
Numerous political prisoners remain in detention, including one of the
most remarkable and courageous leaders of our time, Aung San Suu Kyi.
The issue is how the U.S. can best secure their release and help start
a meaningful political dialogue in Burma, while also endeavoring to
advance a panoply of other priorities, including stable democratic
governance, human rights, counternarcotics, regional stability,
combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic, as well as economic and human
development.
As we all understand, in response to repeated efforts by the ruling
military to thwart the democratic aspirations of the Burmese people as
well as to ongoing serious human rights violations, the U.S. has been
compelled to utilize sanctions and coercive diplomacy as the
centerpiece of our policy. those sanctions were renewed earlier this
year.
In this context, it should be self-evident that the U.S. is
confronted by multiple dilemmas in pursuing our objectives in Burma.
For illustrative purposes, I would note just a few: the strongly
nationalistic, self-centered outlook of the ruling regime; the reliance
by the military elite on an illicit, underground economy for power and
survival; the inability of major industrial countries to agree on
comprehensive sanctions as the basis for a common strategy; competition
for geopolitical influence in Burma between China and India; and the
ongoing humanitarian crisis for the people of Burma--including for many
ethnic minority groups along the country's borders--that calls out for
a more robust and humane international response.
In this regard, as we look at analogies in human history, one that
appears credible and reasonable from an American perspective in south
Africa. As we examine the south African analogy of Nelson Mandela and
the African National Congress to Aung San Suu Kyi and the National
League for Democracy, it is important to note that when we considered
sanctions in the United States it was a very serious debate, and
Congress weighted heavily the fact that Mandela and the ANC were
supportive of sanctions.
The second aspect of the South African analogy, and here is where the
analogy begins to break down, the United States was supported by a
number of countries in Western Europe. In fact, if anything, our
traditional western European allies were stronger supporters of
sanctions than the United States. Although America became the linchpin
country, several European countries that had long-term relations with
South Africa were more forward-leaning than the United States and very
supportive of sanctions.
[[Page H8403]]
In this regard, from a leadership perspective, there is some
discomfort that the rest of the world is not following the American
lead on Burma, not only in Asia and most particularly ASEAN, but also
Western Europe.
As a general proposition in international affairs, and we are seeing
this most clearly in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, Europe is
looking at American leadership as being too inclined to draw ``lines in
the sand'' and not sufficiently attuned to nuance distinctions in
foreign affairs. There may be some truth in this critique, but I think
Burma is the one circumstance where they are most clearly wrong, that
this is a ``line in the sand'' place, and this is a situation in which
we should be expecting far more from Europe.
The good news is that the EU has begun to put a bit more pressure on
the SPDC by demanding, for example, that ASEAN downgrade Burma's first-
ever representation at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hanoi in
October. The forum, begun in 1996, brings together the European Union
and 10 Asian nations, including China, Japan, and South Korea. This
year marks the group's formal enlargement, adding the 10 new EU members
who joined in May along with Burma, Cambodia and Laos. The summit
formally opens on October 8, 2004.
Here it is positive that the EU has set a deadline for this Friday--
the start of the summit--for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house
arrest and for allowing her National League for Democracy party an
integral role in drafting a new constitution. My understanding is that
if the deadline elapsed without progress, the EU is prepared to enact a
set of ``intensified sanctions'' reportedly consisting of a visa ban on
junta officials and a halt to international funding for Burma. Having
said that, it should be understood that these enhanced sanctions are
rather modest in their scope and effect, in that the EU has imposed a
visa ban since 1996 and that for well over a decade Burma has been
effectively barred from lending by the international financial
institutions.
It is also a hopeful sign that United Nations Secretary General Kofi
Annan is also taking increased interest in the situation in Burma. The
United States was appreciative of the fact that on September 29 the
Secretary General convened a meeting with his special envoy to Burma
Ambassador Razali Ismail and concerned U.N. members to discuss the lack
of progress toward democracy and national reconciliation in Burma. The
Congress joins with the executive branch in urging the Secretary
General to remain focused on this matter and we hope and expect that
his engagement will generate more international community cooperation
on this vital issue. In this context, I would urge the Burmese
authorities to promptly allow Ambassador Razali to return to Burma and
to conduct additional visits as he deems necessary.
All Americans remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of
courageous democracy advocate and Nobel peace Prize Laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi, the failure of the junta to permit the National League for
Democracy (NLD) to open its offices nationwide and operate freely, the
junta's refusal to release over a thousand political prisoners, the
recent arrest of political activists and the sentencing of four NLD
members for illegal political activities.
As noted by the Department of State, America's position is clear:
``the Burmese people's desire for a national reconciliation and the
establishment of democracy must be respected.'' We again call upon the
Burmese leadership to take tangible steps, including the immediate
release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, the full and
free participation of the National League for Democracy and
representatives of the ethnic minorities in the National Convention and
the initiation of a meaningful dialogue to advance national
reconciliation and the establishment of democracy.
I urge support for the resolution.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 768, calling on the
United Nations Security Council to immediately consider a resolution on
Burma. I urge all members to support this important legislation.
Burma's military regime is one of the worst governments in the world.
There is a complete lack of freedom of speech, religion, press, and
basic human rights. They should be treated as a pariah in the
international community.
Burma's ruling military uses forced labor, rape, torture, and
imprisonment as a means to quiet opposition and suppress the Burmese
people. Innocent women and children are often used as minesweepers and
the government continues to commit numerous other gross human rights
violations against ethnic minorities. This abuse of the innocent people
of Burma must end.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled into other countries to
seek safety. In Thailand, border towns are packed with refugees forced
to live their lives in camps or illegally as migrant workers.
Conditions are rough and tensions run high.
Sadly, the situation in Burma continues to worsen. Just last week
there were two reports of attacks on Karen and Karenni villages where
unknown numbers of villagers were killed. Homes, schools and clinics
were burned. Civilians are forced to flee into the jungle to avoid
attack. Attacks are common with the typical village moving every 3
months to avoid attacks. Cut off from humanitarian aid, thousands of
people are trapped in the jungle, constantly moving to avoid attacks.
After attacks, it is common for the military to lay landmines
throughout the villages to try to deter the villagers from ever
returning.
We must not forget that while Burma continues to commit unspeakable
abuses against its people, its democratically elected leader, Aung San
Suu Kyi, remains under house arrest and the desire for democracy runs
strong among the people of Burma. We must send a clear signal to the
government of Burma that no amount of repression will legitimize their
government. They must immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi, all
political prisoners, cease attacking ethnic minorities, and allow true
democracy and freedom to flourish in Burma.
I urge every Member to vote in support of this important legislation.
We must send a strong message to the Government of Burma that the
United States stands with the people of Burma and their quest for
democracy.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 768.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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