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For Immediate Release Congressman Pitts Calls for Action to Stop Widespread Abuses in Burma Washington–- Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) today issued the following statement on the widespread oppression currently taking place in Burma: “The situation in Burma cannot be ignored any longer. The thugs of Rangoon are on a violent rampage - burning homes and destroying villages throughout Burma. Since March 1, 2006, the military dictatorship has forced 11,000 people from their homes. These 11,000 villagers, commonly referred to as internally displaced persons (IDPs), are in desperate need of food, safety and medicine. Reports suggest the military regime is actively hunting down over 2,000 of the 11,000 IDPs. “One report documents the brutal torture and killing of several members of the Karen ethnic group in Burma in recent weeks. One 9-year-old girl, Eh Yawh Paw, was shot on April 9. She survived the attack only to discover that her father and 80-year-old grandmother had been murdered by the same thugs. “Stated plainly, the world must act to help stop the atrocities of the military dictatorship of Burma. “On December 16th, 2005, the UN Security Council held its first ever briefing on Burma, after 10 countries, due to strong leadership from the U.S., gave their support. At the briefing, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan indicated that the Security Council should get involved in Burma, as called for by various government leaders and NGOs such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Refugees International. “This recent crisis in eastern Burma underscores, even more strongly, why talk at the Security Council is not enough. The U.S. must go further and lead an effort to pass a resolution on Burma at the UN Security Council. The world knows what is happening in Burma. If the international community does not act, we are complicit in the Burmese regime’s atrocities.” ### |
