July 25, 2007

Congressman Pitts Applauds
Renewal of Burma Sanctions

Legislation Aims to Punish Regime for Human Rights Violations

Washington– This week, Congressman Joe Pitts (R, PA-16) supported legislation to again extend a set of tough sanctions against the brutal ruling military junta of Burma.  The bill, which Congressman Pitts cosponsored, passed with no objections in the House on Monday, July 23. 

Congressman Pitts’ statement follows:

"It is very important that Congress approved legislation this week to continue holding the brutal dictatorship of Burma accountable for their atrocities against the people of Burma.  The junta continues to deny the population even their most basic human rights.  Rape as a weapon of terror, the use of child soldiers, destruction of villages, homes, food sources, and places of worship are standard operating procedure for the dictatorship.  The renewal of sanctions makes clear to the thugs of Rangoon that the United States stands with the people of Burma.

"In June, I hosted a visiting delegation of ethnic leaders from Burma.  During their visit, we met with First Lady Laura Bush in order to update her on the current human rights atrocities there.  The First Lady's leadership on behalf of the people of Burma is deeply important and her commitment to seeing the people of Burma live in peace and freedom was very clear.”

Background

H.J.Res. 44, sponsored by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Tom Lantos (D, CA-12), extends sanctions against the military regime currently ruling Burma.  Human rights abuses in Burma have been well documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the U.S. State Department.  An estimated 70,000 child soldiers have been forced into the regime’s army and Amnesty International estimates some 1,200 political prisoners have been locked away.  Human Rights groups estimate there are 1 million Internally Displaced Persons inside Burma.  In the past few years, the dictatorship has destroyed over 3,000 villages.

Sanctions were originally applied through the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, a bill Congressman Pitts also cosponsored.  H.J.Res. 44 passed in the Senate today by a vote of 93-1.  The legislation passed this week would continue to prohibit the importation into the United States of any item produced in Burma.  The President has expressed his support for the measure, indicating he will sign the legislation into law.

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