Political Quotes

“Today, I rise in strong opposition to the recent sham election that took place in Burma on November 7. As the sponsor of this important resolution, I want to lend a public voice for many people yearning to see democracy take real root in Burma. The purpose of the election is crystal clear: to entrench the military junta's rule under a cloak of democracy. Notwithstanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the junta's actions cannot be an excuse to draw the curtain closed on so many people in Burma who yearn for the fresh breath of freedom. While claiming the pro-junta party won 80 percent of the vote in the sham election, the Burmese regime clearly demonstrated its adherence to Chairman Mao's famous dictum that 'political power comes from the barrel of a gun.' To make matters worse, just as rigged election results were being reported, junta troops engaged in shoot-outs with ethnic minority forces in border areas, sending tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Thailand. Artillery fire even flew over the border, injuring refugees, Thai civilians, and Thai soldiers on the Thai side. Shelling your peaceful neighbor is no way for any government to conduct an election. And while we all laud the release of the acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, no one should be fooled into thinking that the Burmese junta leopard has changed its spots.”