Mike Levin: “This bill will renew the import ban on products from Burma. In light of the overwhelming evidence that that country…”

“This bill will renew the import ban on products from Burma. In light of the overwhelming evidence that that country continues to blatantly disregard human rights and suppress democracy, it is important, indeed I would say vital, to continue to continue sanctions for another year. The State Peace and Development Consul, as it is called, the controlling military junta, continues to have total disregard for its own people and their basic rights. The Burmese regime forcibly relocates civilians and has created a situation in which hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced or forced to flee to neighboring countries. That government continues to arrest, imprison, torture, and beat political activists and senior officials of the National League for Democracy. Over 1,100 political prisoners are imprisoned. In May, the Government of Burma extended the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She has been detained for 11 of the last 17 years without charge or trial, and has spent the past 4 years in isolation. In light of that country's continuing dismal record and its lack of any concrete steps to provide basic human rights to its citizens, I urge all of my colleagues to extend the ban on the import of Burmese products for another year.”