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Letter to Congress
- Subject: Letter to Congress
- From: tlandon@xxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 20 Apr 1997 17:43:00
April 20,1997
Senator Slade Gorton
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-4701
Dear Senator Gorton,
Thank you for your continued support for democracy in Burma.
Unfortunately, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) has
made little progress in improving conditions for democracy.
I am writing to urge your support for economic sanctions against the
SLORC. Conditions have clearly been met over the past year for the
sanctions outlined in the Cohen-Feinstein Amendment to be implemented.
For example, Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy
members still face political repression and harassment. Amnesty
International called 1996 "the most repressive year since the uprising in
1988" with over 2000 political arrests.
In addition, on April 15, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
issued the strongest statement of condemnation ever towards the SLORC.
It communicated "deep concern...over recent attacks on ethnic
nationalities resulting in death, destruction, and displacement." An
estimated 110,000 individuals are currently in vulnerable refugee camps
in Thailand, with continued threats of repatriation by the Royal Thai
Government.
Secretary of State Albright put the "Burmese on notice that, unless the
clouds of repression are lifted, they will face investment sanctions
under US law." This posturing on the part of the White House has
occurred since 1995, and conditions have only worsened in Burma. It is
time for the US Congress to send legislation to the White House that
imposes a ban on new investment in this corrupt country. Senator Mitch
McConnel indicated on April 16 that he will submit new legislation
imposing such sanctions, and I respectfully urge your support.
Sincerely,
Tim Landon
PO Box 909
Spokane, WA 99210