Joint Congressional Human Rights Caucus and Congressional Women's Caucas
Members' Briefing,
United States House of Representatives
June 19, 2003
2255 RHOB
Washington, D.C
Aung Din, Director of Policy
Free Burma Coalition
Mr. Chairman,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of 50 million Burmese who are locked in a battle with an illegitimate military regime to bring peace, democracy and human rights to our country. My name is Aung Din, and as you mentioned I serve as the director of policy for the Free Burma Coalition, an organization based in the United States with national and international chapters.
I'd like to start by thanking Congressmen Tom Lantos, Frank Wolf, Joseph Pitt, Lane Even, Mark Sounder and Jerry Weller and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and Congressional Women's Caucas for hosting this event today, our leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 58th birthday and Women of Burma Day. I'd especially like to thank Congressman Tom Lantos and Peter King for introducing legislation on Burma in the House of Representatives. As you know, this legislation passed the Senate last week by a vote of 97-1, and the Bush administration has endorsed it in the House. We urge the House to support President Bush and Congressman Lantos by immediately passing this legislation. Please do this to support the Burmese people.
As you know, on May 30th, Burma's military regime launched a brutal and despicable attack on our democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Hundreds of thugs brutally attacked her convoy in the middle of the night, with blunt bamboo stick, steel rods, and pipes. They brutally beat her supporters, and it is likely that scores were killed. At the same time, the regime shut down all NLD offices across the country and over 150 NLD supporters and members have disappeared or been arrested.
Sadly, I am not surprised by these events. Things like this happen all the time in Burma.
In 1988, I was a student at the Rangoon Institute of Technology when I and many of my fellow students helped to organize a nationwide demonstration that almost overthrew the military government. As millions of people marched on the streets, the military regime opened fire on us. Up to 10,000 people were murdered in a matter of weeks, including students, women, monks and infant children. Those who survived were jailed and suffered daily torture sessions. I was one of them.
When they arrested me, they handcuffed me, threw a hood over my head, and pulled me off the bus I was riding. I was sentenced to four years in prison in a kangaroo court without the benefit of a lawyer. For political prisoners such as myself, each day centered on interrogations, beatings, and mental torture. When the guards noticed I had written a calendar on my wall with a small piece of brick, I was thrown in pitch-black solitary confinement. When I forgot to stand at attention, I was forced to crawl on sharp, pointed stones for 100 yards while the prison guards beat me with sticks and belts. Many of my fellow prisoners were tortured even more. They were tortured for dropping a cup of water. They were tortured for teaching English--they were tortured for anything. Often, when I tried to sleep, I could hear the screams of those being tortured.
Even today, there are still an estimated 1,600 political prisoners in Burma, including men, women, and students. But, there are many things worse than being a prisoner. The regime has raped thousands of women. The regime uses slave labor throughout the country. The regime has recruited 70,000 child soldiers. The regime has burned down thousands of villages, and forced millions of people to flee their homes.
I could talk about human rights abuses in Burma for many hours, but I want to leave time for questions and answers, so please let me explain why we need sanctions immediately. If we think carefully, we will see that sanctions are the right policy tool at the right time for three reasons:
First, there are some people who say that sanctions on Burma will only hurt the people. This is simply not true. It is true that some people will lose their jobs, but in Burma the regime receives most of the money from trade. They do not allow private business. They do not allow free enterprise. They and their cronies own and control the means of production. This is not free trade. This is supporting tyranny.
Second, we should pass these sanctions because the United States and the West have a great deal of influence over Burma's economy. The United States alone accounts for between 20 and 25% of Burma's exports--a huge portion. The European Union imports a similar amount, so together they can make a huge difference.
Sometimes, the regime says they can depend only on Asian nations. This is not true. The regime is bluffing, and we should not believe their lies. Just as they lie and say they would not attack Aung San Suu Kyi, they lie and say that they can rely on Asian nations. In truth, Asian nations do not want to invest in Burma because of the regime. They cannot depend on Asian nations and China because these countries will not support them.
Third, the people of Burma have asked for the sanctions. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her political party won 82% of the seats in parliament, but the regime refused to recognize the results. Now, the democratic movement is asking for sanctions. In the United States, you always respect the results of final votes in Congress. Please respect the elected leaders of Burma also.
Fourth, United States should pass these sanctions even if Aung San Suu Kyi is released. This is not about one woman. This is about freedom for all the Burmese people. As Senator McConnell said, the regime cannot play "catch and release" game forever.
Finally, sanctions must be matched by international political pressure. Sanctions are a step in the right direction, but they are not enough. We need concrete international political pressure. Specifically, the United States should move to place Burma on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council. The Security Council should immediately consider increasing pressure on the regime by applying sanctions of its own.
In closing, let me say that we greatly appreciate the support from the United States. American people believe in freedom and democracy more than any other country in the world. Someday, I hope that Burma will also be free. When we remember our history, we will say that in our time of need, the United States supported our struggle. I hope that the representatives sitting in this Congress will shine the light of democracy and help us on our path to freedom.
Thank you
Aung Din
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