*EPF508 03/08/2002
Text: Pitts Says 300,000 Burmese Now Refugees from Rangoon Regime
(Echoes Aung San Suu Kyi's call to pray for people of Burma) (320)

Representative Joseph Pitts (Republican of Pennsylvania) urged fellow lawmakers to join him and others around the world in praying for the people of Burma in March 7 remarks to the House of Representatives.

Pitts said 300,000 Burmese refugees have fled that country's military dictatorship, and are now living in Bangladesh, India and Thailand.

Pitts is a member of the Helsinki Commission on human rights compliance, and of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. He is the founder of the Religious Prisoners Congressional Task Force, which has advocated for prisoners of conscience in various countries, and is a member of the House International Relations Committee.

Following is the text of Representative Pitts March 7 remarks from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

DAY OF PRAYER FOR BURMA
House of Representatives
March 07, 2002

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, for years the people of Burma have suffered horrifying brutality, torture, rape, forced labor and destruction of homes and villages. Entire communities are forced to live in hiding in the jungles without access to medical care or education for their children because the military dictatorship of Burma continues to attack villagers who refuse to allow drug production on their land or who will not bow to the illegitimate authority of the SPDC.

Approximately 300,000 Burmese are now refugees in Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. When Rev. David Eubank visited with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League of Democracy in 1997, she suggested inviting churches from around the world to pray for the people of Burma.

Since then, people from all faith backgrounds around the world now join each March to pray for peace for the people of Burma.

Madam Speaker, I urge the American people and this body to join me in praying for freedom and peace for the people of Burma.

(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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