EBO “Burma News” 14 February 2003

News Summary:

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1. Lawmaker Says Burma Must Stop Brutality Against Minorities

2. Support for Aung San Suu Kyi : U.S. State Department Press Statement

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Lawmaker Says Burma Must Stop Brutality Against Minorities

Asian Tribune

Date : 2003-02-14

Joseph Pitts, Republican Congressman from Pennsylvania decried Burma's

campaign of genocide in the floor of House of Representative on 12 February.

He pointed out in the American Parliament that the international community

has failed to recognize that there is, under international legal definitions,

a campaign of genocide against the ethnic minorities by the ruling State Peace

and Development Council (SPDC) dictatorship in Burma.

The full text of Pitts speech made in the American parliament is given below:

Mr. Pits: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the ethnic minorities of Burma,

otherwise known as Myanmar. In January, I visited the Thai-Burma border and

met with refugees, democracy activists, prisoner-of-conscience groups and others

working to help the people of Burma.

Sadly, the international community has failed to recognize that there is,

under international legal definitions, a campaign of genocide against the ethnic

minorities by the ruling SPDC dictatorship in Burma.

We met with victims' groups, land mine victims, orphans, rape victims and others.

One little boy I met was an 8-year-old orphan. He had seen both of his parents killed,

then he was trafficked over the border into Thailand and there he escaped to

the refugee camps. This little boy was so traumatized that he could not even smile.

I saw many children like him.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Government and the international community must do

something to assist the people of Burma and stop the brutality. Otherwise,

we will all be responsible for the successful genocide campaign ethnic cleansing

going on by the vicious military of the SPDC.

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Press Statement

Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Washington, DC

February 13, 2003

Burma – Support for Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi was recognized once again last week, receiving a major award

for her "heroic efforts to bring freedom to Burma." At the same time, in Burma,

local members of a government-affiliated organization have been handing out

pamphlets defaming her, her family, and her struggle. In addition, the ruling

military regime, the State Peace and Development Council, has arrested democratic

activists, denying them the peaceful expression of their political views.

While the world community looks forward to reconciliation and democracy for

the people of Burma, the regime there seems to be looking backward. The United

States once again calls on the military regime to release all political prisoners

immediately and unconditionally and to engage in a real dialogue regarding

constitutional issues. We continue to support the efforts of United Nations Special

Envoy Razali Ismail to foster change. It is time for the people of Burma to be

given hope for the future.

[End]

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