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For Immediate Release
10/02/2007
Pelosi: ‘The United States Stands With the Freedom-Seeking People of Burma in Their Just Cause’
Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon supporting the non-violent protests by the Burmese people and condemning reports of a brutal crackdown by the ruling military regime. Following her statement, the House approved legislation (H. Con. Res. 200) calling on the Burmese regime to restore democracy to Burma and immediately release Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners of conscience:
“Madam Speaker, I’m pleased to rise in support of this resolution condemning the crackdown on the peaceful protestors in Burma and calling for the immediate release of Burma’s democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi.
“Aung San Suu Kyi has been, for many decades, a leader on this issue. She won, as Mr. Lantos mentioned, the last democratic election in 1990 and has spent the last decade under house arrest, away from her husband and two children.
“Who in the world would have the courage and strength that she has had? When her husband was ill and in the United Kingdom, she could not visit him. When he passed away, she could not attend his funeral. Imagine the personal sacrifice of this great leader. Imagine the turmoil within her. She understood that democracy for all the people of Burma was more important than the personal needs that she had for her family - what greatness.
“She has seen her supporters beaten, tortured and killed, and yet she has never responded with hatred or violence. All she has ever asked for was peaceful dialogue.
“Others have mentioned some of the provisions of the legislation, and I think that it’s important to again mention them:
“Condemn the crackdown.
“Demand that we emphasize the role of China in all of this. We should act in a bipartisan way to demand that the People’s Republic of China and other countries that provide political and economic support for Burma’s military junta, end such support.
“Firmly insists that Burma’s military regime begin a meaningful tripartite political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy and ethnic nationalities.
“Demand the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi, detained monks and other political prisoners of conscience.
“Call on governments around the world, including the nations of the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to severely tighten their sanctions regime against Burma.
“Call on the United Nations Security Council to immediately pass a resolution imposing multilateral sanctions on Burma’s military regime. Of course, this cannot happen without China’s support on the Security Council, which is why their role is so important.
“I am disappointed, but not surprised, China is using its veto power at the U.N. Security Council to block a condemnation of the recent crackdown. For many years, the Chinese government has helped prop-up the Burmese regime, though I think of them as thugs, by blocking multilateral sanctions and providing substantial economic and military assistance to the Burmese government.
“China is Burma’s largest trading partner and it is estimated that China controls more than 60 percent of the Burmese economy and has provided close to $3 billion in military aid since the early 1990s.
“Simply said, this Burmese regime would not have the strength and power that is has absent the support of China. We are calling on China to use its influence to bring about a political negotiation with the pro-democracy activists. This is a golden opportunity for China to show that it can be a force for peace and stability in the world.
“In the last few weeks, we all know that we have seen an extraordinary turn of events in Burma. The repression has been there a long time, but in the past few weeks, courageous people, led by Buddhist Monks, have taken to the streets to stand up to a corrupt, illegitimate military regime that has repressed the country for nearly 20 years.
“The ruthless crackdown is outrageous and the international community must not stand by while peaceful protestors are arrested, beaten and murdered.
“Let there be no doubt that the United States stands with the freedom-seeking people of Burma in their just cause.
“President Bush is to be commended for supporting tougher sanctions on those responsible for the gross violations of human rights. We can and should go further in bringing diplomatic pressure to bear on the regime.
“I know we all look forward to working with the President on this as we move forward.
“And so, my colleagues, I again commend Aung San Suu Kyi as she years ago called on individuals, organizations and governments to support Burma’s democracy movement saying: ‘Please use your liberty to promote ours.’
“Today, on the floor of the United States House of Representatives, we are doing just that.
“I commend Aung San Suu Kyi for her courage and for her leadership. The people of Burma are rising up and demanding their country back. The world must meet this challenge to our conscience.
“Thank you again Mr. Lantos, Mr. Smith, all of my colleagues in a bipartisan way in support of democracy in Burma.”