Russ Feingold: “today I will discuss the disturbing situation in Burma. I have consistently stressed my deep concerns regarding the…”

“today I will discuss the disturbing situation in Burma. I have consistently stressed my deep concerns regarding the repressive military junta in Burma that continues to commit severe human rights violations against the Burmese people. Despite consistent calls to halt abuses by the Burmese military such as rape, harsh political repression, torture, extrajudicial executions, forced labor, and human trafficking, the SPDC fails to address these egregious violations and permits violations to continue with impunity. However, I am encouraged by ASEAN's rejuvenated efforts to hold Burma to long-promised democratic reforms. ASEAN's resolute calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of NLD and more than 1,100 political prisoners, and for real democratic reform, are vital to legitimate progress in Burma and regional stability and values. ASEAN has long pushed for these goals and its recent announcement that it will send an envoy to evaluate Burma's progress in democratic reform is an important step toward accountability. It is far past time for the international community to begin a dialogue on Burma. I welcome the unanimous decision by the United Nations Security Council to discuss the situation there. The September 2005 report produced by Nobel Prize laureate Desmond Tutu and former Czech President Vaclav Havel provided a solid basis for these discussions.…”