The Burmese military regime has attempted to silence our voices, and this hearing would have presented a strong opportunity for the Senate to hear directly from the legitimate leaders of Burma.

I hope my opinion, which is also shared by my fellow monks inside and outside Burma, will be included in the subcommittee's examination of the effectiveness of U.S. policy toward Burma.

U.S. Policy must openly invite, listen to and empower all Burma Minorities just as we did the Kurds in Iraq!

Meet as often as possible with the leadership in Nyapyidaw to press the case for the release of political prisoners and for allowing greater democratic freedoms.

I am greatly disappointed that no Buddhist Monks or members of Burma's democracy movement were invited to testify in this hearing.

the United States has no military ambitions or objectives of any kind inside the country.

I'll look forward to continuing that dialogue here on the subcommittee, as well.

And this is one of my points with respect to the involvement that I've had over the years in Vietnam.

Sanctions help preserve the natural resources of Burma for future generations.

sanctions should be reduced carefully but immediately.

Senator Webb is sponsoring it in the Senate.

We tend to take these incidents as isolated incidents, and we resolve the incident, and then we dismiss it, and we say things are fine.