Dianne Feinstein: “I rise along with my distinguished colleague from Kentucky, Senator McConnell, to introduce the Burmese Freedom and…”

“I rise along with my distinguished colleague from Kentucky, Senator McConnell, to introduce the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, which would establish a complete import ban on all products from Burma. On May 30, Aung San Suu Kyi and at least 17 officials of the National League for Democracy, NLD, were detained after a clash in the town of Ye-u, after reportedly being attacked by members of the Union Solidarity Development Association, a paramilitary organization created by the ruling military junta, the State Peace and Development Council, SPDC. Four people were killed and 50 injured in the attacks. Aung San Suu Kyi has been officially placed in ``protective custody'', but her whereabouts remain unconfirmed. Still more disturbing are reports in today's Washington Post that Suu Kyi may have suffered a head wound and a broken arm in the attacks and is possibly being held at a military hospital near Rangoon. The military junta continues to insist that she is in good health and in a ``safe place'', yet they are unwilling to allow independent verification of Suu Kyi's condition. One year ago the military junta freed Suu Kyi following 19 months of house arrest, while promising cooperation and dialogue toward political accommodation. Had I discussed Burma on the floor of the Senate back then, I would have sounded a note of cautious optimism, echoing Aung San Suu Kyi's own statement that ``it's a new dawn for the country''.”