[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 131 (Wednesday, September 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9427-S9428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BURMA'S FORGOTTEN POLITICAL PRISONERS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to my 
colleagues' attention a new report by Human Rights Watch entitled 
``Burma's Forgotten Prisoners.''
  The report offers moving and compelling stories of political 
activists in Burma who have put their lives and careers on the line to 
raise awareness about the human rights situation in their country.
  In the face of threats, intimidation and beatings, they have embraced 
nonviolence to put pressure on the ruling military junta to respect the 
legitimate aspirations of the people of Burma and support a new 
government based on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
  We all have been inspired by the story of Burma's most famous 
political prisoner, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the 
democratic opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi.
  After leading the National League for Democracy to an overwhelming 
win in the 1990 parliamentary election--a victory quickly annulled by 
the military junta--she has spent the better part of the past 19 years 
in prison or under house arrest.
  Recently, a Burmese court sentenced her to an additional 3 years of 
confinement on trumped up charges of violating the terms of her house 
arrest.
  Yet despite the regime's best efforts, it has failed to stifle her 
will and her call for free and democratic Burma.
  And it has failed to stop her from inspiring thousands of her fellow 
citizens to take up her cause.
  The report by Human Rights Watch reminds us that while Suu Kyi is the 
most well-known democracy activist, she is by no means alone. In fact, 
the report notes that there are now more than 2,100 political prisoners 
in Burma; there are 43 prisons holding political activists in Burma and 
50 labor camps; and beginning in late 2008, closed Burmese courts 
sentenced more than 300 activists to prison terms of, in some cases, 
more than 100 years for speaking out against the government and forming 
organizations.
  Among those profiled are Zargana, one of Burma's most famous 
comedians, actors, and human rights activists, who was arrested and 
sentenced to 59 years in prison for criticizing the

[[Page S9428]]

government's response to Cyclone Nargis; U Gambira, a young Buddhist 
monk who was sentenced to 68 years in prison including 12 years of hard 
labor for playing a key role in the 2007 demonstrations which became 
known as the Saffron Revolution; Ma Su Su Nway, a prominent labor 
rights activist who was sentenced to 12\1/2\ years in prison for 
criticizing the government during the 2007 demonstrations; and Min Ko 
Kaing, a 46-year-old activist who has spent 17 of the past 20 years in 
prison, most of it in solitary confinement, for his political beliefs.
  At a time when the regime is intent on moving forward with new 
elections based on a constitution that was drafted behind closed doors 
and would entrench the military as the country's dominant political 
force, it is important for us to remember that there are those in Burma 
who have a different vision.
  These brave activists deserve our admiration and respect. More 
importantly, they deserve to know that we stand in solidarity with them 
and we will not rest and we will not remain silent until they are free.
  I urge my colleagues to read the report and to once again call on the 
ruling State Peace and Development Council to release all political 
prisoners and begin a true dialogue on national reconciliation in 
Burma.

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