[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2142-E2143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON WELCOMING THE RELEASE OF BURMESE DEMOCRACY LEADER AND NOBEL PEACE 
                    PRIZE LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 15, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
House resolution welcoming the release of Burmese democracy leader and 
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest on 
November 13, 2010. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had been imprisoned in Burma 
for 15 of the last 21 years. She was first put under house arrest on 
July 20, 1989, and was offered freedom if she left the country, but 
refused.

[[Page E2143]]

  Even under house arrest, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi demonstrated unwavering 
and determined political leadership, provided inspiration, and garnered 
respect from the people of Burma and democracy-loving people around the 
world.
  As one of the world's only imprisoned recipients, she was awarded the 
Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her nonviolent struggle against 
oppression, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee citing her as ``one of 
the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Asia in recent 
decades.''
  Today, however, we must not rejoice. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has called 
on all world leaders to stay focused on the plight of each one of the 
millions of Burmese struggling against the military rule, on the over 
two thousand two hundred political prisoners suffering unjustly in 
Burmese prisons, and the thousands of women and children being 
systematically raped and taken as sex slaves and porters for the 
military whose rule they suffer under.
  Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded both of the highest civilian awards in 
the United States: the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2000 which 
recognizes those individuals who have made ``an especially meritorious 
contribution to the security or national interests of the United 
States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private 
endeavors'' and, in 2008, the Congressional Medal of Honor for her 
``courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human 
rights, and democracy in Burma.''
  In one of her most famous speeches, she poignantly conveyed: ``It is 
not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those 
who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are 
subject to it.'' Even Aung San Suu Kyi herself freely notes that her 
release does not constitute a change in the military junta regime's 
choices in leadership. Six days before her release were the highly-
contested November 7th Burmese elections, which were clearly based on a 
fundamentally flawed process and demonstrated the regime's continued 
preference for repression and restriction.
  Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom must not be restrained. She must be able 
to travel freely without fear of her recapture at any given moment. 
Furthermore, this resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional 
release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in 
Burma, including Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters in the National League 
for Democracy and ordinary citizens of Burma, including ethnic 
minorities, who publicly and courageously speak out against the 
regime's many injustices.
  The ruling junta in Burma must be denied hard currency to continue 
its campaign of repression and we can do that by working with 
governments around the world to strengthen sanction regimes against 
Burma. And, it is time for the Administration to appoint a United 
States Special Coordinator for Burma.
  Madam Speaker, today the House of Representatives has the opportunity 
to celebrate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's freedom. And, yet, we celebrate 
with a heavy heart for all of the millions still suffering in Burma. I 
urge my colleagues to stand firmly in solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi 
and the people of Burma with your support of the passage of this 
resolution, human rights, an end to the junta-imposed violence, 
democratic progress, and for the release of all prisoners of conscience 
in Burma.

                          ____________________