Washington, DC -- U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell delivered the following floor statement Tuesday on his legislation to renew sanctions against the Burmese government -- “The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act.” His floor remarks follow:



“Mr. President, I would like to call up H.J. RES. 44, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act.

“This legislation continues the sanctions already in place against Burma’s illegitimate State Peace and Development Council. If enacted, these sanctions would continue to show the SPDC that the United States stands squarely with the longsuffering people of Burma and against its brutal regime.

“Just last month, the International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the actions of the Burmese regime — a rare vocal stance for an organization that has historically worked to bring about change behind the scenes. The ICRC’s statement, according to international observers, is the harshest it’s issued since the Rwandan genocide more than 12 years ago.

“Burma’s sham reforms are not fooling the Red Cross, and they should not be fooling anyone else. The SPDC recently resumed its so-called “constitutional convention” — a convention in which most delegates are selected by the regime itself and in which delegates are not allowed to offer draft changes without permission. Criticism of the draft constitution is prohibited by law. One notable provision in the draft forbids the spouse of a foreign national from sitting in Parliament, an addition clearly aimed at National League for Democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, whose British husband died in 1999.

“The SPDC calls the convention a “road map” to democracy. But on the SPDC’s map, the destination is not freedom. It’s tyranny.

“Until the NLD and Burma’s ethnic minorities are fully included in the governing process; until this process reflects true democratic principles, this convention should be shunned by the international community. A sham constitutional process is a step backwards, not forward.

“That said, there are some encouraging signs. International pressure on the Burmese regime has begun to increase. Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have expressed concern about the SPDC’s behavior. And, much like the ICRC’s condemnation, recent statements of ASEAN members represent a departure from traditional practice. Clearly there is growing international impatience with the Burmese regime.

“I am proud to say that the United States has long been at the vanguard of the movement to democratize Burma. Others, like ASEAN, are following our lead. They are beginning to recognize the moral imperative to help the people of this beleaguered nation.

“I am also proud of the continued, unified stance taken by the U.S. Senate over the years with respect to Burma.

“On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted out this bill unanimously. This legislation has 60 cosponsors and once again enjoys broad bipartisan support.

“I am pleased to be joined once again by my good friend and cosponsor, the senior Senator from California, Senator Feinstein. I would also like to thank Rich Harper of her staff for all the hard work he has done to make this legislation possible. On the Republican side, my good friend Senator McCain continues to use his respected voice to support the Burmese people.

“It is time for the Senate once again to go on record and show that we stand with the people of Burma. As we do, we can be confident of their gratitude. In a recent book on the plight of the Burmese people by author Emma Larkin, a Burmese man urges outside nations to keep the pressure on.

‘Change has to come from outside,’ he says. ‘The world must pinch Burma harder …. Give any money to these generals and it is like watching a poisonous plant grow.’

“Let’s show that we stand for freedom and against oppression — for real democratic progress and against hollow promises of reform—against the “poisonous plant” that is the SPDC. I urge my Senate colleagues to support adoption of this bill.”

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