[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E253-E254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT OF BURMA'S DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2005

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, on February 17, 2005, Burma's ruling military 
junta, a regime that Secretary of State Rice has rightly called an 
``outpost of tyranny,'' will reconvene a national convention to draft a 
new constitution. Sadly, this convention, which excludes anyone 
interested in democracy and freedom of expression, appears to be yet 
another attempt to place a veneer of legitimacy on the dictatorship's 
rule. General Than Shwe, the recognized leader of Burma's military and 
the dictatorship, must understand that the international community and 
the people of Burma are not fooled by this latest attempt to establish 
legitimacy.
  On February 14th, Burma's Committee for the Restoration of the 
People's Parliament (CRPP), an umbrella organization including over 200 
Members of Parliament elected in 1990, called for all of Burma's ethnic 
groups to boycott the military's convention. The CRPP includes Nobel 
Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy 
(NLD). The statement by CRPP demonstrates once again the incredible 
bravery of the Burmese people in their battle against the ruling 
generals.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for the international community to face the 
facts: Than Shwe and other leading participants of this rogue regime 
have shown that they have no desire to seek political accommodation or 
peaceful dialogue with the Burmese people. Their actions show that they 
have chosen the path of tyranny and terror--the impact of this decision 
will increasingly be felt throughout the region.
  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must realize that 
Burma's military junta is an iron anchor wrapped around the neck of 
this important organization. The actions of the military junta are 
draining economic growth from regional states, promoting the spread of 
HIV/AIDS throughout Asia, protecting indicted drug smugglers and 
flooding Thailand with methamphetamines and heroin, that eventually 
makes its way to the shores of the U.S. The regime fundamentally 
promotes regional instability and obstructs regional growth.
  Recently, the U.S. Federal Court in New York City indicted eight drug 
traffickers from Burma in absentia. According to court documents, they 
are leaders of the United Wa State Army, one of the largest drug 
producers and traffickers in the world. This group is responsible for 
importing $1 billion worth of heroin into the U.S. between 1985 and 
2004. These criminals could not operate without the active collusion of 
the ruling generals. Moreover, the legendary drug kingpin known as Khun 
Sa, also under indictment in the U.S. on heroin trafficking charges, is 
living under the protection of the dictatorship of Rangoon. On November 
18, 2003, the Department of the Treasury announced the designation of 
Burma and two Burmese banks to be of ``primary money laundering 
concern'' under Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act. In addition, The 
Department of Treasury, acting through the Financial Crimes Enforcement 
Network (FinCEN), has instituted sanctions against two Burmese 
financial institutions, Myanmar Mayflower Bank and Asia Wealth Bank, 
due to money laundering concerns.

  ASEAN is serving in a critical role in the recovery and rebuilding 
efforts after the horrible tsunami that devastated parts of Asia. As a 
leader in the international community, ASEAN must come to understand 
that the organization must actively challenge Burma's military regime 
to work with Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. It must not be forgotten 
that the NLD won over 80 percent of the seats in the 1990 parliamentary 
election. A stable and democratic Burma is good for the entire region 
and the world. I would like to strongly commend and welcome the work of 
the Burma Caucus members in the Indonesian and Malaysian parliaments 
who are pressing for greater involvement by their countries in pressing 
the Burmese junta to bring positive change.
  ASEAN cannot afford to have its leadership role sidetracked as it is 
forced to account for the acts of terror and oppression a member 
nations, Burma's junta, inflicts on the Burmese people. Last year's 
Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) was delayed for months due to negotiations 
surrounding the participation of Burma. ASEAN is heading for another 
diplomatic fiasco as Burma is set to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN 
in 2006. ASEAN must understand that when the group spends more time 
addressing the latest crisis created by the junta, instead of focusing 
on plans to promote economic growth, fight the war on terror, and

[[Page E254]]

develop collective solutions to the region's social problems, that is 
not good for ASEAN or any of its individual members. ASEAN immediately 
needs to put significant, meaningful pressure on the regime. Ejecting 
Burma's junta or at the very least suspending their membership from 
ASEAN would be a powerful statement of ASEAN's determination to deal 
with the problems Burma's dictatorship creates.
  The United States government and citizens have long stood side-by-
side with Burma's democracy movement. I look forward to legislation 
that will continue the U.S. economic sanctions imposed on the country 
in 2003. In addition to action that we take as a nation, we must also 
press the United Nations to do more. Secretary General Kofi Annan 
should use his office to bring the issue of Burma before the Security 
Council for immediate action. Further, the Secretary General should 
request a formal investigation to examine evidence of crimes against 
humanity by Burmese military officials and senior regime leaders in 
order to hold responsible parties accountable for the widespread use of 
rape and ethnic dislocation as weapons of war.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in the 
House, the Senate and the Administration to see that Burma's military 
regime soon joins the Soviet Union, Ceausescu's Romania, Milosevic's 
Yugoslavia and other regimes and dictatorships that now reside in the 
ashbin of world history.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I say to the people of Burma: You are not 
forgotten. We stand with you and will continue to work with you for as 
long as it takes to ensure that the people of your nation are able to 
live in peace and freedom.

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