[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 181 (Thursday, December 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1903-E1904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BURMA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 19, 2013

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, despite U.S. officials continuing to 
celebrate the alleged ``opening'' of Burma and planning projects such 
as bringing electricity to the entire country, we need to stop and 
listen to the people of Burma. The ethnic groups have a different story 
to tell, one which does not support U.S. agencies' narrative. Ethnic 
minorities are not celebrating this alleged ``opening.'' Instead, they 
continue to be forced to defend themselves from offensive attacks by 
the Burma army and regime.
  Some officials in Washington act as if democracy has suddenly infused 
all levels of government and all policies in Burma, including by 
welcoming and feting Shwe Mann, the 3rd ranking official in the 
``former'' dictatorship who is now serving as the Speaker of the 
Combined House of Parliament. The people of Burma are still fighting 
for freedom of speech, conscience, belief, and association. Political 
prisoners still languish in prison, the Muslim minority has been 
brutally attacked by factions of the Buddhist majority with nary an 
outcry by Aung San Suu Kyi or other democratically elected leaders, and 
Kachin women and girls are still raped by soldiers bent on purifying 
minority bloodlines. How can a government that continues to implement 
policies that directly contradict democratic principles be so embraced 
by the international community, including by U.S. officials?
  What is wrong with this picture? The Administration is supporting 
those in favor of removing a dictatorship in one country while 
embracing a brutal dictatorship in another country. How is it that in 
one area of the world, our government has provided training and weapons 
to groups working against a dictatorship--even as some members of the 
opposition may have direct links to Al Qaeda--while in Burma, we have 
turned our backs on a population that has longed for democracy, 
freedom, and the protection of basic rights?
  These inconsistent policies are deeply disturbing. ``Former'' 
dictators who truly desired to establish a democracy would stop using 
forced labor in military projects; would end horrific attacks against 
the Kachin, Northern Shan and Taang communities; would cease rearming, 
rebuilding, and resupplying their bases in ethnic territories; and 
would discontinue using bait and switch tactics in negotiations.
  In recent negotiations between the Burma Government and the ethnic 
groups, the Government acts as if the ethnic groups should prove that 
they are trustworthy in terms of any ceasefire agreement. I would 
strongly posit that it's the other way around: the Government of Burma 
must prove its trustworthiness to the ethnic groups by ending its 
aggression before any ceasefire occurs. The ethnic minorities have 
simply defended their people and states when under attacks initiated by 
the Burma government. It is time for those attacks to

[[Page E1904]]

stop, it is time for the Burma Army to withdraw from the ethnic areas, 
and it is time for the international community to stop indirectly 
facilitating the blatant racism in Burma by normalizing every 
relationship with the regime Burma and instead express exceptional 
disappointment with the failure to move forward towards honest 
political dialogue and true democracy.
  I call on the Government of Burma to prove its commitment to 
democracy and peace by unconditionally and immediately ending the 
horrific attacks against ethnic minorities and fully withdrawing from 
their territories. Earn the trust of the people by showing, over the 
long term, that you truly have turned 180 degrees and will implement 
democratic principles instead of imposing a dictatorship on the 
population.
  I call on the Obama Administration to embrace the reality in Burma. 
Listen to what the people who live inside Burma say they desire. They 
want to live in peace, but that will not happen until the Burma 
Government and Army stop their attacks against the ethnic groups and 
enact a nationwide ceasefire. The U.S. Administration needs to stop its 
direct and indirect support for the Burma Government and Army by 
discontinuing assistance until specific benchmarks are met, by delaying 
any Pentagon training until all attacks against minorities cease, and 
by ensuring the ethnic nationality groups are given a full and equal 
place at the table to help decide the future of their country.
  To the ethnic nationalities of Burma--stand your ground. You deserve 
to have your rights and freedoms protected and you deserve an equal 
place at the table to decide the future of your country.

                          ____________________