| Important Burma Update | 1 comment |
 9 Jun 2003 @ 08:38, by Raymond PowersThis comes from The Burma Mission organization. Dear Burma-ban campaigners, As many of you may know, Burma's regime has violently cracked down on the democracy movement over the past week and a half, killing as many as one hundred or more people and imprisoning many more - including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her "lieutenant" National League for Democracy Vice-Chair U Tin Oo. Both Daw Suu and U Tin Oo are also injured. Things are moving very rapidly. The Free Burma movement is rapidly pushing for as much international pressure on Burma's regime as possible. In the U.S., this is largely taking the form of legislation that will ban all imports from Burma, as well as ensure that the regime can receive no IMF or World Bank loans and freeze their overseas assets. While this legislation has been in the works for a while, it was only just introduced on Wednesday and is moving *very* quickly because of the ongoing political crisis. Please post this alert to your lists TODAY, and please act immediately - first by calling your Senators, then by calling your Representatives. The Senate vote will probably occur first, and very soon. This legislation, if passed as it is, will effectively put an end to our campaigns against "Made in Burma" goods and allow us to turn to other ways of pressuring Burma's regime. Thanks for your continued support and action, ******************************* Dan Beeton Free Burma Coalition ******************************* URGENT ACTION ALERT: CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND SENATORS TODAY 1) Description of Action 2) Talking Points 3) Text of Legislation ========================================= 1) On Wednesday, June 4, both the Senate and House of Representatives introduced legislation to significantly increase pressure against Burma's brutal military regime. It comes just days after a nationwide military crackdown in Burma, during which scores of people were killed and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi was seriously injured and rearrested. While this latest atrocity adds urgency the situation, the legislation is NOT being introduced in reaction to it. It is being introduced because the military regime refuses to participate in UN-sponsored talks with Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy. This is an important distinction--because then in order to escape the legislation the regime would simply have to release Suu Kyi, and we would be back at square one. ========================================= 2) Call your Congressional and Senate offices and ask to speak with the staff member who handles foreign affairs. If you get their voicemail, leave a message explaining that it is very urgent and they need to call you back as soon as possible. -If you do have a chance to talk to them, let them know what has happened in Burma, including to Aung San Suu Kyi. (You can request recent news from national papers and/or papers in your area from us). -Ask for them to co-sponsor the Burma Freedom Act, (if they are a Senator, they will co-sponsor the Senate version BILL S1182, if they are a House member, support the House version, HR2330). -Offer to email them a copy of the legislation. They cannot give you an immediate answer, since they need to ask the Senator/Congressperson. But do ask them when they will be able to tell you what action the Senator or Congressperson is taking. Let them know that the people of your State greatly care about this and that the ongoing crackdown on democracy in Burma makes the situation very urgent. -Write down exactly what happened with each call you make--send us an email and let us know where things stand. Try to be as detailed as possible about your conversations. That will help us answer any concerns they have. ================================================ "We believe in people power. Without your participation, we can achieve nothing." - Min Ko Naing, Burmese student leader imprisoned in Burma since 1989 PLEASE CONTINUE READING 3) House of Represenatives Version, 108th CONGRESS, 1st Session H. R. 2330 To sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 4, 2003 Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. HYDE, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. PITTS, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. OLVER, Mr. FARR, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003'. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has failed to transfer power to the National League for Democracy (NLD) whose parliamentarians won an overwhelming victory in the 1990 elections in Burma . (2) The SPDC has failed to enter into meaningful, political dialogue with the NLD and ethnic minorities and has dismissed the efforts of United Nations Special Envoy Razali bin Ismail to further such dialogue. (3) According to the State Department's `Report to the Congress Regarding Conditions in Burma and U.S. Policy Toward Burma' dated March 28, 2003, the SPDC has become `more confrontational' in its exchanges with the NLD. (4) On May 30, 2003, the SPDC, threatened by continued support for the NLD throughout Burma , brutally attacked NLD supporters, killed and injured scores of civilians, and arrested democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi and other activists. (5) The SPDC continues egregious human rights violations against Burmese citizens, uses rape as a weapon of intimidation and torture against women, and forcibly conscripts child-soldiers for the use in fighting indigenous ethnic groups. (6) The SPDC has demonstrably failed to cooperate with the United States in stopping the flood of heroin and methamphetamines being grown, refined, manufactured, and transported in areas under the control of the SPDC serving to flood the region and much of the world with these illicit drugs. (7) The SPDC provides safety, security, and engages in business dealings with narcotics traffickers under indictment by United States authorities, and other producers and traffickers of narcotics. (8) The International Labor Organization (ILO), for the first time in its 82-year history, adopted in 2000, a resolution recommending that governments, employers, and workers organizations take appropriate measures to ensure that their relations with the SPDC do not abet the government-sponsored system of forced, compulsory, or slave labor in Burma, and that other international bodies reconsider any cooperation they may be engaged in with Burma and, if appropriate, cease as soon as possible any activity that could abet the practice of forced, compulsory, or slave labor. (9) The SPDC has integrated the Burmese military and its surrogates into all facets of the economy effectively destroying any free enterprise system. (10) Investment in Burmese companies and purchases from them serve to provide the SPDC with currency that is used to finance its instruments of terror and repression against the Burmese people. (11) On April 15, 2003, the American Apparel and Footwear Association expressed its `strong support for a full and immediate ban on U.S. textiles, apparel and footwear imports from Burma' and called upon the United States Government to `impose an outright ban on U.S. imports' of these items until Burma demonstrates respect for basic human and labor rights of its citizens. (12) The policy of the United States, as articulated by the President on April 24, 2003, is to officially recognize the NLD as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people as determined by the 1990 election. SEC. 3. BAN AGAINST TRADE THAT SUPPORTS THE MILITARY REGIME OF BURMA . (a) GENERAL BAN- (1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, until such time as the President determines and certifies to Congress that Burma has met the conditions described in paragraph (3), no article may be imported into the United States that is produced, mined, manufactured, grown, or assembled in Burma . (2) BAN ON IMPORTS FROM CERTAIN COMPANIES- The import restrictions contained in paragraph (1) shall apply to, among other entities-- (A) the SPDC, any ministry of the SPDC, a member of the SPDC or an immediate family member of such member; (B) known narcotics traffickers from Burma or an immediate family member of such narcotics trafficker; (C) the Union of Myanmar Economics Holdings Incorporated (UMEHI) or any company in which the UMEHI has a fiduciary interest; (D) the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) or any company in which the MEC has a fiduciary interest; (E) the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA); and (F) any successor entity for the SPDC, UMEHI, MEC, or USDA. (3) CONDITIONS DESCRIBED- The conditions described in this paragraph are the following: (A) The SPDC has made substantial and measurable progress to end violations of internationally recognized human rights including rape, and the Secretary of State, after consultation with the ILO Secretary General and relevant nongovernmental organizations, reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the SPDC no longer systematically violates workers rights, including the use of forced and child labor, and conscription of child-soldiers. (B) The SPDC has made measurable and substantial progress toward implementing a democratic government including-- (i) releasing all political prisoners; (ii) allowing freedom of speech and the press; (iii) allowing freedom of association; (iv) permitting the peaceful exercise of religion; and (v) bringing to a conclusion an agreement between the SPDC and the democratic forces led by the NLD and Burma's ethnic nationalities on the transfer of power to a civilian government accountable to the Burmese people through democratic elections under the rule of law. (C) Pursuant to section 706(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228), Burma has not been designated as a country that has failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts to adhere to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and to take other effective counternarcotics measures, including, but not limited to (i) the arrest and extradition of all individuals under indictment in the United States for narcotics trafficking, (ii) concrete and measurable actions to stem the flow of illicit drug money into Burma's banking system and economic enterprises, and (iii) actions to stop the manufacture and export of methamphetamines. (4) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- In this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on International Relations and Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (b) WAIVER AUTHORITIES- The President may waive the prohibitions described in this section for any or all products imported from Burma to the United States if the President determines and notifies the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations, International Relations, and Ways and Means of the House of Representatives that to do so is in the national security interest of the United States. (c) DURATION OF TRADE BAN- The President may terminate the restrictions contained in this Act upon the request of a democratically elected government in Burma , provided that all the conditions in subsection (a)(3) have been met. SEC. 4. FREEZING ASSETS OF THE BURMESE REGIME IN THE UNITED STATES. Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, and promulgate regulations to the same, that any United States financial institution holding funds belonging to the SPDC or the assets of those individuals who hold senior positions in the SPDC or its political arm, the Union Solidarity Development Association, shall promptly report those assets to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The Secretary of the Treasury may take such action as may be necessary to secure such assets or funds. SEC. 5. LOANS AT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each appropriate international financial institution in which the United States participates, to oppose, and vote against the extension by such institution of any loan or financial or technical assistance to Burma until such time as the conditions described in section 3(a)(3) are met. SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF VISA BAN. (a) IN GENERAL- (1) VISA BAN- The President is authorized to deny visas and entry to the former and present leadership of the SPDC or the Union Solidarity Development Association. (2) UPDATES- The Secretary of State shall coordinate on a biannual basis with representatives of the European Union to ensure that an individual who is banned from obtaining a visa by the European Union for the reasons described in paragraph (1) is also banned from receiving a visa from the United States. (b) PUBLICATION- The Secretary of State shall post on the Department of State's website the names of individuals whose entry into the United States is banned under subsection (a). SEC. 7. CONDEMNATION OF THE REGIME AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION. Congress encourages the Secretary of State to highlight the abysmal record of the SPDC to the international community and use all appropriate fora, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum and Asian Nations Regional Forum, to encourage other states to restrict financial resources to the SPDC and Burmese companies while offering political recognition and support to Burma's democratic movement including the National League for Democracy and Burma's ethnic groups. SEC. 8. SUPPORT DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS IN BURMA . (a) IN GENERAL- The President is authorized to use all available resources to assist Burmese democracy activists dedicated to nonviolent opposition to the regime in their efforts to promote freedom, democracy, and human rights in Burma , including a listing of constraints on such programming. (b) REPORTS- (1) FIRST REPORT- Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives a comprehensive report on its short- and long-term programs and activities to support democracy activists in Burma , including a list of constraints on such programming. (2) REPORT ON RESOURCES- Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and International Relations of the House of Representatives a report identifying resources that will be necessary for the reconstruction of Burma , after the SPDC is removed from power, including-- (A) the formation of democratic institutions; (B) establishing the rule of law; (C) establishing freedom of the press; (D) providing for the successful reintegration of military officers and personnel into Burmese society; and (E) providing health, educational, and economic development. =================================================== Senate Version S. 1182. A bill to sanction the ruling Burmese military junta, to strengthen Burma's democratic forces and support and recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate representative of the Burmese people, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES Mr. MCCONNELL introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations [Co-Sponsors, Dianne Feinstein, John McCain, Sam Brownback, Tom Daschle, Rick Santorum, Edward Kennedy, Jon Kyl, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Mikulski, Arlen Specter, Richard Lugar, Joseph Biden, Barbara Boxer, Russell Feingold, Bill Frist] --- |