Rep. Pitts: Burma Becoming Sudan of the East?

Washington —Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) issued the following statement regarding the latest atrocities committed by the ruling military regime in Burma .

“I was horrified to learn that the Burmese military regime's campaign of terror against its own people has continued in full force.  Over the past few weeks, regime troops have forced over 7,500 innocent villagers to flee their homes into the jungle in the Karen and Karenni states.   A recent, credible report states that at least 576,000 people have been forced from their homes and are currently living as refugees inside Burma .  This is in addition to hundreds of thousands of other villagers who have simply disappeared.

“By forcing more than half a million people from their homes, Burma 's military regime is responsible for creating a full-fledged human rights nightmare.  Shockingly, even though Burma is richly endowed with natural resources, unrelenting attacks by Burma 's military regime have resulted in child mortality and malnutrition rates at a rate comparable to internally displaced populations in the Horn of Africa.  This is creating systemic, destabilizing refugee flows to neighboring countries.

“A country such as Burma , whose main exports are refugees, narcotics, and HIV/AIDS, presents a serious threat to regional stability.  The United States should lead the United Nations Security Council as soon as possible to pass a resolution condemning this threat and demand immediate changes.  Additionally, the US government and people should lead the way in immediately providing food and shelter assistance to internally displaced people who are fleeing this despotic regime.”

Congressman Pitts is vice-chair of the House Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Human Rights.  He has seen firsthand the refugee camps in Thailand of those who have fled from Burma ’s regime – the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).

#   #   #