[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E604-E606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BURMA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 14, 2008

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, the bloody crackdown on 
innocent, peaceful protesters by Burma's brutal regime last fall 
shocked the world. Over 30 people were killed, hundreds were injured, 
and as many as 1,000 people arrested during and after the protests. It 
was startling even by the standards by which we have come to judge this 
military regime.
  Last week the Congressional Human Rights Caucus welcomed three 
courageous witnesses to this travesty, U Kovida, U Gawsita, and U 
Pannyasiri, Burmese Buddhist monks who were beaten and abused by this 
regime, but have become advocates for their people. I would like to 
submit their testimonies for the record.
  After the initial outrage over the government's actions last fall, 
I'm afraid that many people moved on, and the plight of the Burmese 
people has passed again from public consciousness. This is why it was 
so important for us to hear these distinguished witnesses, peaceful and 
courageous men who stood up for their people in the face of this 
violent suppression. By giving them an opportunity to describe what 
they went through--and what their countrymen and women continue to go 
through--we can help refocus attention on Burma.
  In February, the regime announced that it would hold a national 
referendum on a new constitution in May 2008. They said that if the 
constitution were approved, they would hold a ``multi-party election'' 
in 2010. I, for one, however, have no faith in pronouncements from 
these thugs that they are ready to end military rule; the closed 
process of drafting the constitution and the extensive ongoing military 
role in the proposed system are obvious problems. And, of course, the 
exclusion of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi--still locked up under 
house arrest--is completely unacceptable.
  Meanwhile, we search for ways to compel this regime to respect human 
rights. We in Congress have addressed the issue many times since the 
1988 massacres. I have chaired multiple hearings on human rights abuses 
in Burma and we have addressed the situation through legislation aimed 
at the regime. Just this fall, I was honored to co-sponsor legislation 
authored by that great friend of Burma, Chairman Tom Lantos. The Block 
Burmese JADE act would level new restrictions on the military 
government.
  But the emboldened dictators continue their course of abuse--extra-
judicial killings, torture, rape, forced labor, and of course, tight 
control over speech, the press and assembly.
  They are supported by patrons in Beijing, who are happily preparing 
for the Olympics as they bankroll these thugs to the tune of $2 to $3 
billion in military aid since the early 1990s, $200 million of economic 
aid annually, and billions of dollars in investment and trade.
  Congress has discussed the role of the Chinese in Darfur, and 
recently Madam Speaker, I co-sponsored your timely resolution calling 
upon the Chinese to end their violent crackdown in Tibet. However, we 
cannot forget the Chinese role in supporting repression in Burma.
  When the world watches the Olympic games from China, I hope at least 
some of the viewers think of the Burmese political prisoners--perhaps 
1,800 of them--suffering in the prisons that the Chinese support. They 
are enduring what one former prisoner has called the closest thing to 
hell on earth that he could imagine.

  Testimony of U Kovida Before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, 
                             April 10, 2008

       Honorable Congressmen, staff members, Ladies and Gentlemen.
       I would like, first of all, to offer my sincere THANKS to 
     all of you who have given me a chance to share what I have 
     experienced and those who are here to listen and pay 
     attention to what I have to say. Secondly, I would like to 
     thank the President of the United States and the American 
     people for giving me this opportunity to explain the 
     predicament and dire situation the people are facing in Burma 
     on behalf of our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the 
     oppressed Burmese.
       I am, as you all know, one of the participants during the 
     so-called ``Saffron-Revolution'' in September 2007. Burma is 
     infamous for its violation of Basic Human Rights, disrespect 
     to the freedom of religion, one of the least developed and 
     poorest countries in the world with the lowest living 
     standard where the civil war has been going on for the past 
     50 years.
       These are the reasons why we, people of Burma, have wanted 
     a change in the government system. We have wanted to have a 
     higher live standard, and live in a better and developed 
     country. The people in Burma have struggled and fought for 
     change since 1962. We have struggled and fought to achieve 
     such change throughout the history and the demonstrations and 
     protests in 1962, 1974, 1988, 1996, 2003, and 2007 are 
     significant. But all of our voices, pleas and struggles were 
     answered by the brutality of the military government which 
     used weapons, brutal suppressions, torture, and 
     imprisonments.
       The international community witnessed the brutal 
     suppression of monks who demonstrated peacefully in September 
     2007. But there have been many incidents of oppressions, 
     violation and torture that have been going on inside Burma 
     without anyone knowing for many decades.
       What I would like to point out here in the harmless and 
     helpless Burmese have very high hope and are depending on the 
     assistance and intervention from the United Nations and the 
     international community in the past 20 years. Sadly and 
     unfortunately, there hasn't been any positive effect on the 
     people of Burma. There were so many decisions by the United 
     Nations. There were many U.N. representatives who have 
     visited Burma, but the future looks bleak. We were greatly 
     discouraged by the fact that the Security Council merely 
     suggested the military which was killing its own people and 
     monks, to engage in talks. What I am saying to you now is 
     exactly what the people of Burma would like to speak out.
       Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Burma are not only 
     suffering from extreme poverty, hardship, substandard in 
     health care, education and social services but also facing 
     oppression by the military government on a daily basis. When 
     monks in Burma understood, realized, and felt the hardship 
     the people had to go through, we decided to protest 
     peacefully on behalf of the people. And everyone knows how we 
     were dealt with. We appreciate that you are trying to oppose 
     the constitution drafted by the military and its

[[Page E605]]

     hand picked representatives. We strongly support your effort 
     at the UN to reject any referendum and constitutions without 
     the participation of all people concerned.
       Right now the military government is planning to have a 
     constitutional referendum in May. In many areas in Burma, 
     people are illegally forced as well as offered financial 
     incentives to vote. In other areas, people are threatened. 
     Some of the activists were brutally beaten up by unknown 
     assailants very recently. The closer the May referendum is, 
     the more scared and concerned the people are about their 
     safety and security. Securities have been tightened inside 
     Rangoon. Police and security forces are deployed on the main 
     streets of Rangoon.
       Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to emphasize the fact 
     that we need help and assistance in order to change the 
     government system in Burma. We cannot accept the 
     constitutional referendum and planned general election in 
     2010 organized by the military government which totally 
     ignored the results of people's voices in 1990 general 
     election, and whose sole aim is to prolong and ensure the 
     military influence in Burma politics for many more years to 
     come. We strongly urge you to reject any effort by the 
     military government to legitimize itself.
       In conclusion, I would like to thank once again the 
     international community, governments and administrations, 
     respected congressmen as well as the people who love 
     democracy and who are supporting our course. I thank the 
     Refugee International to facilitate my appearance here at the 
     Congress.
                                  ____


  United States Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing on Burma, 
                 April 10, 2008, Testimony of U Gawsita

       Honorable Congressmen, Ladies and Gentlemen.
       First of all, I would like to thank all of you for here 
     today and allowing me to speak.
       My name is U Gawsita, a Buddhist Monk from Burma. Until 
     before I left from Burma, I was at the Maggin Monastery, in 
     Thingan Gyun Township in Rangoon, studying Buddha's teaching 
     of Dhama and working social assistance works. The Maggin 
     Monastery was not only a religious center, but also a 
     sanctuary for orphans and HIV/AIDS infected persons, who were 
     ignored by the military government. Our monastery was also a 
     gathering place of democracy activists and human rights 
     defenders, and therefore, it was constantly watched by the 
     junta.
       On September 5, 2007, Buddhist monks in Pakkoku Township in 
     Upper Burma, who marched in the streets peacefully with 
     reciting the Metta Sutra, Buddhist teaching of Loving-
     Kindness, were severely attacked, arrested and tortured by 
     the authorities. As we couldn't tolerate such an insult to 
     the monks, who are highly respected by the people of Burma, 
     and to respond the injustices done by the junta, Buddhist 
     monks all over the country founded a coalition called the 
     ``All Burma Monks' Alliance (ABMA)'' on September 9, under 
     the leadership of six leading monks. I was a founding member 
     of the ABMA since its inception. The ABMA issued an ultimatum 
     to the military junta, calling it to apologize to the monks, 
     whom they have insulted in Pakkoku, no later than September 
     17. ABMA also claimed that if they do not, ABMA would start 
     an ex-communicative boycott, which we called in Pali, Patta 
     Nikuzana Kan, against the Burmese military junta and their 
     family members. The Patta Nikuzana Kan is a strong action of 
     monks against those who have insulted or attacked the members 
     of religious order. Since the day this action is effective, 
     monks refuse to accept food offer and donation from those who 
     attacked and insulted the Buddhism and Buddhist monks, and 
     refuse to perform religious blessing on them. I and my fellow 
     monks made copies of this ABMA statement and distributed 
     among the public secretly.
       As the authorities refused to apologize to the monks, and 
     they even accused that these monks in Pakkoku were bogus 
     ones, the ABMA instructed all monks in the country on 
     September 18 to begin an ex-communicative boycott against the 
     junta. As instructed, I organized other monks and to take a 
     vow to participate in the ex-communicative boycott at an 
     ordination center inside the compound of Kyaikkasan Pagoda on 
     September 18, 2007.
       As we all, over 70 monks, gathered, over 150 security 
     forces, police and intelligence officials came to us and 
     threatened to disperse. We then left from that place, moved 
     to another Pagoda, called Kyauk Sardaw, and took a vow 
     together. Then, as we have planned before; we all marched 
     towards the Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon while reciting 
     the Metta Sutra. It was the beginning of the peaceful 
     protests led by Buddhist monks in Burma that shocked not only 
     the country, but also the world. Since September 18, monks in 
     various parts of the country gathered at one particular 
     place, marched in the streets towards a prominent Pagoda in 
     the town, with reciting Metta Sutra, daily. In Rangoon, we 
     gathered at the Shwedagon Pagoda and then peacefully marched 
     towards the Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon while reciting 
     Metta Sutra. People from all walks of life welcomed and 
     helped us wholeheartedly and since September 24, they also 
     joined with monks in the march in hundreds of thousands.
       From September 26, the military junta began to crack down 
     on the peaceful march by use of violence. Security forces 
     threw tear gas canisters at the crowd, beat the protesters 
     with rubber sticks and shot them with automatic rifles. Under 
     the excessive use of violence by the junta, nearly 200 monks 
     and lay people were killed and over 7,000 were arrested 
     nationwide. I was also beaten on my head. We continued the 
     peaceful march on September 27 and security forces brutally 
     attacked the protesters at least three places in Rangoon, in 
     front of the Sule Pagoda, in the Wayzayanda Street in South 
     Okkalapa Township and in front of State High School No. 3 in 
     Tamwe. Security forces raided about 60 monasteries and 
     arrested over 2,000 monks. Monks were forced to disrobe in 
     interrogation centers and severely tortured. At least 20 more 
     monks were killed during the interrogation.
       Maggin monastery was raided twice, on the nights of 
     September 26 and October 3, by the security forces and almost 
     all of monks and civilian assistants were arrested. I was 
     hiding in some place, and therefore, escaped from the arrest. 
     On November 29, the authorities forcibly shut down the Maggin 
     monastery and forced the 80-year-old senior monk Ashin 
     Nandiya, some novices and HIV/AIDS patients to leave the 
     monastery. I hid in many places before I reached to Thai-
     Burma border on December 5, 2007. As assisted by the U.S. 
     Government and Congress, I was permitted to resettle in the 
     U.S. and arrived here on March 11, 2008.
       I am now at a safe and secure place. However, my fellow 
     monks and the people of Burma are still suffering a lot under 
     the oppressive rule of the brutal military junta. Therefore, 
     I would like to urge the United States to lead an initiative 
     to have an effective action from the U.N. Security Council.
       I heard that late Congressman Tom Lantos and Senators 
     Joseph Biden and Mitch McConnell have introduced two 
     legislations, banning importation of jades and precious 
     stones from Burma, imposing more targeted financial and 
     banking sanctions against the Burmese generals, family 
     members and crony businesspersons. It has been more than six 
     months since the bloody crackdown on my fellow citizens in 
     Burma by the brutal military junta. But, final decisions on 
     these legislations have not been reached yet. Therefore, I 
     would like to urge members of Congress to adopt these 
     legislations as soon as possible.
       In coming May, the military junta will forcibly approve its 
     constitution, designed to legalize the military dictatorship, 
     though the referendum. I would like to urge the U.S. and 
     international governments to not recognize this sham 
     constitution. I know that Congressmen Holt, Berman and Ros-
     Lehtinen have introduced legislation, calling for the United 
     States to not recognize the junta's constitution. I also want 
     to urge the Congress to adopt this resolution as soon as 
     possible.
       Thank you.
                                  ____


  United States Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing on Burma, 
             April 10, 2008, Testimony of U Pannyar Thi Ri

       Honorable Congressmen, Ladies and Gentlemen.
       I would like to thank all of you for here today.
       My name is U Pyannyar Thi Ri, a Burmese Buddhist monk from 
     Zay Ta Wun Monastery in Tha Ke Ta Township in Rangoon.
       When the Burmese military junta has suddenly increased gas 
     and fuel prices in August 2007, and subsequently the people 
     of Burma began to stage peaceful walks in the streets, I was 
     studying Buddhist teaching of Dhama at a Monastery in Thar Ke 
     Ta Township in Rangoon. I have witnessed the brutal crackdown 
     by the military junta against the peaceful protesters led by 
     the 88 Generation Students. I also learned that my fellow 
     monks in Pakkoku Township in Upper Burma were beaten and 
     arrested by the authorities on September 5, while they were 
     walking in streets, reciting Metta Sutra (Loving-Kindness) to 
     help the suffering of the people of Burma. As I can't 
     tolerate these injustices, I joined with my fellow monks in 
     Rangoon in the peaceful walks, by reciting the Metta Sutra, 
     since September 22, 2007.
       I would like to tell you one of my own experiences which 
     happened on September 26. When I was at nearby the Shwedagon 
     Pagoda together with my fellow monks that day, hundreds of 
     security forces came in, surrounded us and blocked the 
     streets. Then they threw tear gas canisters at us. When we 
     were demobilizing under the smoke and dark, they attacked us 
     with rubber sticks. Then they also burned a motorcycle and 
     claimed that it was burned by monks. We dispersed for a 
     moment under the attack, but later remobilize again and 
     marched towards the Sule Pagoda in downtown Rangoon, where we 
     intended to meet with other monks. Many monks were injured 
     and blood-stained, but they kept their peace constantly and 
     citing the Metta sutra continuously.
       On September 27, even under the attack and blockade by the 
     security forces, I and five other monks led a peaceful 
     protest, with the participation of nearly 100,000 people, 
     which ended at the Sule Pagoda. While marching in the street, 
     Japanese reporter Kanji Nagai was along with us, taking 
     pictures of the protest. When we reached an overpass nearby 
     the Sule Pagoda, security forces arrived with three army 
     trucks and shot in the air and among the crowd with their 
     automatic rifles.
       In front of my eyes, Japanese reporter Nagai and another 
     protester were fatally shot and a monk was shot in his arm. 
     The

[[Page E606]]

     marching crowd was dispersed under the flying bullets and I 
     had to hide in a restaurant. And the wife of the restaurant 
     owner sent me back to the monastery in Tha Ke Ta at 7 p.m. 
     with her car. At that night, security forces came in with 
     five army trucks and tried to raid the monasteries in Tha Ke 
     Ta. As alarmed by the monks, hundreds of people from the 
     neighborhood came in time to intervene the attempts of 
     security forces, and therefore they left without success. And 
     again, on September 29, at 1 a.m., security forces came to 
     raid the monasteries with 10 army trucks. Local residents 
     gathered quickly and defended the monasteries from the raid 
     of the soldiers, and therefore, they withdrew. However, a 
     civilian was shot to death and his body was stolen by the 
     security forces.
       Therefore, I fled to Taung Twin Gyi Township on September 
     30 to hide. When I came back to Rangoon stealthily on October 
     8, I met with a monk, who is friend of mine, was arrested on 
     September 27 and then released. He told me that he was forced 
     to disrobe in prison and beaten throughout interrogation. The 
     interrogators show him photos of monks leading the protest 
     and asked him to expose who they are. He saw my photo among 
     them. And that's why, he suggested me to run away and hide. 
     Therefore, I left Rangoon immediately and then led a secret 
     journey to Thai-Burma border, where I reached on November 7, 
     2007. Then, as assisted by the United States Government and 
     Congress, I arrived to the United States on March 11, 2008, 
     as a refugee.
       The objectives of the peaceful protests in Burma, led by 
     Buddhist monks, students and people are for releasing of all 
     political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and 
     realizing of a meaningful and time-bound dialogue between the 
     military junta and democratic forces for mutually acceptable 
     political changes. As long as the military junta continues to 
     listen to the voices of the people of Burma and oppress the 
     people by using violence, peaceful protests by monks and the 
     people will continue. The only way to stop the violence of 
     the military junta is an effective and decisive action from 
     the U.N. Security Council. Therefore, I would like to request 
     the United States Government to try to get the effective 
     resolution from the UNSC by organizing the members of the 
     UNSC, especially China and Russia, to help the people of 
     Burma.
       Thank you.

                          ____________________