Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), a Member of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement in support of a nationwide Fast for Burma on fifty-five U.S. college campuses. The Fast is being announced today at a press conference to be attended by international human rights activist Harry Wu and other human rights supporters in Berkeley, California.
The text of Rep. Pelosi's statement follows:
I am pleased to endorse this peaceful, nationwide fast in support of Burma's struggle of democracy. It is an honor to join with Chinese-American human rights activist Harry Wu, who knows first-hand the personal costs of a fight against tyranny. With this fast, students at college campuses across this nation are bringing their tremendous dedication and energy to an international campaign for democracy in Burma.
Fast participants are sending an important message to the Administration and to governments and businesses around the world that business as usual in Burma can not stand. They are also sending a message of solidarity to Burma's democracy activists that in their just cause they do not stand alone.
Last week, Congress completed action on legislation which includes a provision authorizing the President to prohibit U.S. persons from new investment in Burma if, "the Government of Burma has physically harmed, rearrested for political acts, or exiled Daw Aung San Suu Kyi or has committed large-scale repression of or violence against the Democratic opposition." With the recent arrest of up to 800 National League for Democracy supporters and the effective house arrest of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, this condition has been met. It is time to impose sanctions on Burma. I joined with a bipartisan group of Members of the House and Senate in a letter to President Clinton last week urging that he implement these sanctions.
Aung San Suu Kyi's eloquent plea to the international community sounds across the miles. Recently, she said,
"Until we have a system that guarantees rule of law and basic democratic institutions, no amount of aid or investment will benefit our people. Profits from business enterprises will merely go towards enriching a small, already very privileged elite. Companies such as Unocal, Pepsi, Arco and Texaco only serve to prolong the agony of my country by encouraging the present military regime to persevere in its intransigence."
No one knows better than Burma's pro-democracy activists what actions would effectively promote human rights and democratic reform in Burma. The call has gone out, now the rest of the world must act. What do we stand for as a people, what do we represent as a nation, if we turn a blind eye to the tyranny and a deaf ear to this call?
I commend the participants in the Nationwide Fast for Burma. They, and we, will stand by the freedom-seeking people of Burma and their just cause will be won.