House Panel Chair Decries Burma Regime's 'Long Train of Abuses'Washington File 10 June 2003 (Leach says new sanctions must not affect humanitarian aid) (1120) The chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific denounced the attack on Aung San Suu Kyi by "henchmen" of the Burmese government June 10, while hailing the news that the Nobel Peace Prize recipient was in good health. In opening remarks for a hearing of his panel's review of the situation in Southeast Asia, Representative James Leach (Republican of Iowa) said: "We are all of course pleased with the news overnight that UN Special Envoy Rizali Ismail was allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi and that she is apparently in credible health." The United States, Leach said, has watched "with growing frustration and dismay as prospects for political change in Burma have withered away in the face of the ruling military regime's determination to maintain an iron grip on power." "The brutal attack by the junta's henchmen on her traveling party, the broader crackdown against pro-democracy forces, and the vastly diminished prospects for a democratic transition," he warned, leave the United States with no option, "but to reassess its already limited relationship with the Government of Burma." Congress and the Bush administration, Leach said, "must work together to utilize the full range of U.S. diplomatic and economic policy options likely to bring about a restoration of democracy and national reconciliation" in that country. "The long train of abuses perpetrated by Burma's military regime leaves the United States -- and possibly other members of the international community -- with no ethical or political alternative but to embrace a more comprehensive trade ban," said Leach. The Iowa Republican urged that care be taken to exclude from any new sanctions humanitarian assistance provided through non-governmental organizations, including assistance to Burma's ethnic minorities. Following is the text of Representative Leach's June 10 opening remarks, as prepared for delivery: (begin text)
Committee on International Relations
Representative James A. Leach, Chairman June 10, 2003 On behalf of the Subcommittee, I would like to welcome our distinguished panel of witnesses for what we hope will be a timely and important hearing on several dilemmas confronting U.S. foreign policy in Southeast Asia. Here to join us today are Ms Sidney Jones, Indonesia Project Director, International Crisis Group; Ms. Catherine E. Dalpino, Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, the Brookings Institution; Ms. Maureen Aung-Thwin, Director, Burma Project/Southeast Asia Initiative, Open Society Institute; and Mr. Daniel Calingaert, Director of Asia Programs, International Republican Institute. In addition, as Members have been noticed, immediately following the hearing the Subcommittee will consider two pieces of legislation: H.R. 2330, "The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003"; and H. Res. 199, "calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Yang Jianli." Before turning to our witnesses, I would just like to make the following observations. Over the last several months the U.S. has watched with growing frustration and dismay as prospects for political change in Burma have withered away in the face of the ruling military regime's determination to maintain an iron grip on power. We are all of course pleased with the news overnight that UN Special Envoy Rizali Ismail was allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi and that she is apparently in credible health. However, the brutal attack by the junta's henchmen on her traveling party, the broader crackdown against pro-democracy forces, and the vastly diminished prospects for a democratic transition leave the U.S. with no option but to reassess its already limited relationship with the Government of Burma. In this circumstance, it is self-evident that Congress and the Administration must work together to utilize the full range of U.S. diplomatic and economic policy options likely to bring about a restoration of democracy and national reconciliation in Burma. While economic sanctions are seldom successful, the long train of abuses perpetrated by Burma's military regime leaves the United States - and possibly other members of the international community - with no ethical or political alternative but to embrace a more comprehensive trade ban. Nonetheless, too often we forget the distinction between governments and their people, and too often sanctions aimed at punishing governments punish people. Care should be taken, therefore, to exclude from any new sanctions humanitarian assistance that is provided through non-governmental organizations, including assistance to Burma's rich and varied ethnic minorities. With respect to Indonesia and the ongoing campaign in Aceh, it is apparent that Jakarta has been seized with a new nationalist temper likely to further constrain American influence in Southeast Asia's - and the world's - largest Muslim country. For example, vigorous Administration efforts to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict and, failing that, gain access to Aceh by international human rights monitors have to date proven unsuccessful. Although the U.S. has compelling reasons to seek to remain engaged with Indonesia, a common concern to combat terrorism being a self-evident one, the Administration has also repeatedly stated that our relationship will be set back unless those responsible for the August 2002 ambush and murder of American citizens in Papua are identified and brought to justice. By contrast, one of the clear successes for U.S. diplomacy in Southeast Asia has been the strengthening of the natural and historic partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines, as symbolized by the exceptionally warm state visit last month by President Arroyo. One of the areas in which the U.S. and the Philippines have pledged greater mutual cooperation is in the fight against terrorism in Mindanao and elsewhere in the southern Philippines. As Washington and Manila contemplate additional joint exercises against the Abu Sayyaf Group, and perhaps other insurgent groups, how deeply should the U.S. become involved in combating terrorist insurgencies in the Philippines? To what extent do these conflicts have deep roots in Philippine history, and what are the ties of insurgent groups to transnational terrorist organizations, such as Jemaah Islamiya and Al Qaeda? Finally, Cambodia will hold its National Assembly elections on July 27. It will be only the second such election since the current Prime Minister, Hun Sen, staged an armed coup in 1997. Here the Subcommittee is interested in assessing the credibility of the current electoral process, including access to media, and the prospects for creating a political environment conducive to free expression as well as the development of an election administration that commands confidence across Cambodian society. We appreciate your appearance before us today and look forward to your testimony. (end text) (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) -------------------------- |