Release of Aung San Suu Kyi

RELEASE OF AUNG SAN SUU KYI

    Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to note that, thanks to the efforts of millions of people all over the world, ASEAN, in a radical departure from their previous practice, has called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. I thank the Senator for his sponsorship of the legislation that I think may have had some beneficial effect. We obviously don't know all the factors that went into it, except to note also that people all over the world have been aroused on behalf of this great and truly good person. I thank the Senator from Kentucky for his efforts on her behalf.

    Mr. McCONNELL. I thank the Senator from Arizona. I think he is the only person I know who has actually been in the presence of Suu Kyi. I am sure the Senator shares my view that the mere act of letting her out is a long way from where the two of us hope they will end up.

    What the junta needs to do is a lot more than simply end the house arrest, but give her and her duly elected party an opportunity to assume the power that they won 13 years ago in an honest election. So it is a step in the right direction. I am sure my friend from Arizona agrees that we have a long way to go.

    Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Senator.

    Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I was just going to wrap up. I see my friend from Alaska here. How long does the Senator expect to speak?

    Mr. STEVENS. I really could not say.

    Mr. McCONNELL. May I do the wrap-up and then allow the Senator from Alaska to make his comments? The wrap-up is rather short, I believe.

    Mr. STEVENS. May I inquire, did the Senator from Kentucky just cosponsor that amendment?

    Mr. McCONNELL. No. Mr. President, I did not cosponsor the amendment. We were just talking about Burma. Senator McCain and I were talking about Burma. The expression on the face of the Senator from Alaska was one of alarm. I want to reassure him that I certainly did not cosponsor the resolution.