Elizabeth Furse: “for a number of years now I have been deeply concerned about the militarist government in Burma and by its repression of…”

“for a number of years now I have been deeply concerned about the militarist government in Burma and by its repression of human and civil rights of the citizens of Burma. In particular, I have protested the many years of house arrests suffered by Nobel Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I was extremely pleased when on April 22 the Clinton administration imposed sanctions on Burma, and I wrote to Secretary Albright about this. I would like to read into the Record the letter I received from the Secretary's office: As you know, on April 22 the President announced his decision to impose a ban on new U.S. investment in Burma. He took this step in response to a constant and continuing pattern of severe repression by the SLORC. He imposed the ban under the terms of the Burma sanctions provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 1997. During the past 7 months, the SLORC has arrested and detained large numbers of students and opposition supporters, sentenced dozens to long-term imprisonment, and prevented the expression of political views by the democratic opposition, including Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. The SLORC has also committed serious abuses in its military campaign against Burma's Karen minority, forcibly conscripting civilians and compelling thousands to flee into Thailand.”