*EPF411 05/25/00
Text: Representative Tom Lantos Denounces Rangoon Regime
(Cites Albright on 10th anniversary of May 1990 election) (630)

Representative Tom Lantos (Democrat of California), citing Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's recent speech on Burma, denounced the Rangoon regime as a "vicious anti-democratic military junta," in a May 23 extension of remarks in the Congressional Record.

The long-time human rights advocate quoted from Albright's speech on the 10th anniversary of election victory in May 1990 of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy in Burma.

"`We renew our commitment to Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. As long as you struggle, we will do all we can to assist. And we know that you will not stop struggling until you prevail,'" he quoted Albright.

"That spirit," Lantos said, "truly pervades the position of the Administration, the Congress, and the American people toward the repressive regime in Burma and toward the heroine, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has the courage and integrity to stand up against that vicious anti-democratic military junta."

Following is an excerpt from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF BURMA'S MILITARY COUP
(Extension of Remarks -- May 23, 2000)

HON. TOM LANTOS
in the House of Representatives
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2000

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, just a few days ago, here on Capitol Hill, our outstanding Secretary of State, Madeleine K. Albright, and the National Endowment for Democracy, joined by a number of Members of Congress marked the 10th anniversary of the election victory of Burma's National League for Democracy led by Aung San Suu Kyi in free Burmese elections in May 1990. Shortly after that democratic victory, the Burmese military annulled the results of the election and seized power in a military coup.

After the military crackdown against the victors of the democratic election, supporters of the National League for Democracy were arrested and many were forced to flee their homeland. Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest, and has been harassed and intimidated by the vicious and brutal military dictatorship. In appropriate recognition of her peaceful struggle for democratic change in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. The continued military harassment of Ms. Suu Kyi was so intense and bitter that she refused to leave Burma last year when she learned that her husband was dying of cancer in the United Kingdom. It was clear that the military junta would not permit her to return to Burma if she had left.

Aung San Suu Kyi was able to speak to the gathering only via a videotaped message, but she expressed thanks to the United States and other countries for `supporting us in our endeavor to have the results of the 1990 elections recognized at this time, when the military regime are trying hard to pretend that the results of the elections are no longer valid.'

Mr. Speaker, in marking this important Burmese anniversary last week, Secretary Albright delivered an impassioned message of support for Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burmese patriots of the National League for Democracy. Secretary Albright said: `We renew our commitment to Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy. As long as you struggle, we will do all we can to assist. And we know that you will not stop struggling until you prevail.'

Mr. Speaker, that spirit truly pervades the position of the Administration, the Congress, and the American people toward the repressive regime in Burma and toward the heroine, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has the courage and integrity to stand up against that vicious anti-democratic military junta.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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