Support of H.J. Res. 66: Approving the Renewal of Import Restrictions Contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003

Floor Speech

* Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 66, approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the ``Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.''

* I support this resolution because it is consistent with our humanitarian and democratic values against forced labor. As Americans, we must not only sustain these values in our country but we must act globally and deter other countries from tolerating or employing practices that have no place in a civilized society such as forcing innocent men, women, and children to work under harsh and slave-like labor conditions. For this reason, it is critical that we renew the import restrictions contained in the ``Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.''

* Mr. Speaker, it is helpful to recount briefly why import restrictions were placed by the United States on Burma and why it is important to renew them.

* In 1990, Burma's State Peace and Development Council, SPDC, known then as the State Law and Order Restoration Council, held multiparty elections. The overwhelming number of parliamentary seats (82 percent) was won by the National League for Democracy party, led by Nobel Prize for Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the military regime refused to honor the election results, however, and arrested and imprisoned both democracy activists and elected members of parliament, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

* Multiparty general elections were next held in Burma on Nov. 7, 2010 as part of the ``roadmap to democracy'' proposed by the ruling military regime. The National League refused to participate over concerns that the electoral process was fraudulent, concerns that were confirmed by the United Nations and most Western countries, which noted widespread fraud, voter intimidation and cheating throughout the country.

* Since then, the Burmese regime has continued its campaign of suppression and persecution against political opponents, dissidents and other minority populations. This shameful conduct has resulted in the internal displacement of more than 600,000 people and forced more than 130,000 persons to live in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border. Additionally, during this time the SPDC regime has been protecting drug traffickers and forcing residents into slave labor.

* In response to these atrocities, Congress enacted the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act in 2003, which it reauthorized in 2009. The law imposed import restrictions; froze any assets held by the regime in the United States; and expressed U.S. opposition for international lending to the SPDC. The law also prohibited the issuance of U.S. entry visas to members of the SPDC and condemned the regime's campaign against its people and expressed support for opposition groups.

* These restrictions are to remain in place until the State Department certifies that the regime no longer systematically violates the human rights of the Burmese people; no longer uses slave and child labor; and halts the conscription of child soldiers. The law also requires as a precondition to lifting the restrictions that the regime make demonstrable progress in releasing political prisoners, permitting free speech, permitting the peaceful exercise of religion, and holding free and fair elections.

* Sadly, Mr. Speaker, the regime in Burma has not made the necessary progress to justify lifting the restriction. According to a recent report of Human Rights Watch, the highly respected NGO, tens of thousands of villagers have been displaced and fled to the Thai-Burma and China-Burma borders and there are many credible reports of cases of sexual violence against women and girls by Burma army troops. These reports are in line with extensive documentation of sexual violence perpetrated by Burmese military personnel over many years.

* The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recently listed Burma as the fifth largest source country of refugees in 2010, with 415,700 refugees.

* In view of its atrocious record it would send the wrong signal to the Burmese regime, the international community, and, most important, dissidents working to bring real democratic change to their country.

* For these reasons, I strongly support the continued imposition of sanctions on the Burmese regime. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.J. Res. 66.

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