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Senator McCain Bill: Saffron Revolution
Support Act of 2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.02172:
Or Download PDF
Senator Biden Bill: Burma Democracy Promotion Act of 2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.02257:
Or Download PDF
Congressman Lantos Bill: Block Burmese JADE
(Junta's Anti-Democratic Efforts) Act of 2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h3890:
Or Download PDF
Congressman Crowley Bill: To award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.04286:
Previous Burma Bill: Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act 2003 and Executive Order
http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2003/22851.htm
Read here why Burma is a thread to peace and A more
urgent issue:
http://www.badasf.org/2007/burma-thread-to-peace.htm
Below are press releases on the congress bills:
October 17, 2007
SENATOR McCAIN INTRODUCES SAFFRON REVOLUTION SUPPORT ACT OF 2007
Imposes Strict Sanctions on Junta; Targets Individuals Responsible for Horrific
Attacks; Increases Aid to Burmese Democratic Opposition
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) introduces the Saffron
Revolution Support Act of 2007:
"The world has reacted with horror and revulsion at the Burmese junta's brutal
crackdown against peaceful demonstrators," Senator McCain stated. "In crushing
the Saffron Revolution, killing hundreds and jailing thousands - including
countless Buddhist monks - the junta has left no doubt about its blatant
disregard for basic human decency. We, as Americans, stand on the side of
freedom, not fear; of peace, not violence; and of the millions in Burma who
aspire to a better life, not those who would keep them isolated and oppressed."
Senator McCain continued, "Our response must go beyond statements of
condemnation, and the time to act is now. That is why today I am introducing
the Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007 in the United States Senate. This
legislation imposes meaningful and effective punitive action against the cruel,
thuggish, and illegitimate Burmese government. We must not sit idly by while
the junta continues to deprive the Burmese people of their fundamental human
rights."
The legislation would impose targeted sanctions against Burmese officials who
played a direct role in the violent repression of peaceful political dissent,
and also against those who provide, or have provided, substantial political and
economic support for the junta. These individuals would be subject to a visa
ban and a ban on business dealings with any United States entity or person.
This legislation would also close a loophole that exists in current U.S. import
policy that allows imports of Burmese gems and hardwoods, which together add
tens of millions of dollars to the junta's coffers. It would eliminate the
remaining U.S. energy investment in Burma's gas sector and significantly
increase U.S. Government support for democracy in Burma.
Specifically, the Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007:
* States that it is the policy of the United States to condemn the Burmese
junta's continued repression, support the democratic aspirations of the Burmese
people, provide support to aid a democratic transition in Burma, and hold
accountable those individuals responsible for the ongoing repression;
* Imposes targeted financial sanctions against Burmese officials who have
played a direct role in the violent repression of peaceful political dissent,
against the junta government itself, and also against those who provide, or have
provided, substantial political and economic support for the junta;
* Imposes a visa ban on these individuals;
* Prohibits the importation of Burmese gems and hardwoods, including
materials that are mined or harvested in Burma but shaped, cut, or assembled in
other countries not subject to current U.S. sanctions;
* Prohibits investment in Burma by U.S. companies, including investment
agreements reached prior to the imposition of the May 20, 1997 sanctions;
* Permits the President to terminate sanctions once the Government of Burma
has:
o unconditionally released all political prisoners, including Aung San
Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy;
o entered into a substantive dialogue with democratic forces on a
transition to democratic government under the rule of law;
o allowed humanitarian access to populations affected by armed
conflict in all regions of Burma;
* Authorizes $20 million for FY 2008 and FY 2009 in aid to democracy
activists in Burma, for the expansion of radio and television broadcasting into
Burma, and for support to individuals and groups compiling evidence of the
junta's crimes;
* Expresses the sense of Congress that the Director of National Intelligence
should target intelligence resources to identify those responsible for the
crackdown and for other human rights abuses;
* Authorizes the Secretary of State to fund the establishment of an
independent, searchable, Internet database that would compile evidence of human
rights abuses in Burma, permitting increased international research aimed at
holding human rights abusers accountable;
* Requires a report by the Secretary of State on international sources of
military aid to the Burmese regime.
"The next phase of political life in Burma has begun," said McCain. "The
junta's thugs cannot forever postpone the blossoming of freedom and democracy.
By enacting the Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007, the Congress can help
ensure that they do not."
####
Joe Biden: Biden Bill Promotes Democracy in
Burma
Wed, 10/31/2007 - 15:06 — newsdesk
October 30, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) introduced the Burma Democracy Promotion
Act to promote the restoration of civilian, democratic rule to the troubled
state of Burma. Today's legislation will help create the right conditions for
the peaceful, negotiated transfer of power from the generals who have ruled
Burma for almost two decades to a newly-constituted civilian, democratic
government.
"We need to bring pressure to bear on the Burmese generals directly responsible
for the violence against the peaceful protestors last month, but unilateral
sanctions alone will not get the job done," Sen. Biden said. "We need a
coordinated, international diplomatic strategy that combines pressure with
dialogue."
The Burma Democracy Promotion Act imposes new financial sanctions and travel
restrictions on the leaders of the junta and their associates. In addition, the
legislation tightens the economic sanctions Congress imposed in 2003 by
outlawing the importation of Burmese gems and timber to the United States. The
bill also creates a new position of Special Representative and Policy
Coordinator for Burma. The Special Representative will work with Burma's
neighbors and other interested countries, including the members of the European
Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to develop a comprehensive
approach to the problem, including sanctions, dialogue, and support for
non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian relief to the Burmese
people.
"It is time for Burma to begin a new day in which all of the people, including
Burma's many minority groups, work together to rebuild what nearly 20 years of
disastrous military rule have destroyed," said Sen. Biden.
Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Patrick
Leahy (D-VT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) are cosponsors of this bipartisan bill.
In addition, the bill was written in consultation with Sen. McCain's office.
Source: Senator Joe Biden
---------------------------------------
McCain, Lantos draft Burma-crackdown legislation
By Elana Schor
October 16, 2007
The outpouring of support for Burma's pro-democracy protests is poised for a
congressional full-court press this month, including new legislation from House
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and GOP presidential
hopeful Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).
As partisanship on the Hill grows ever sharper, few issues inspire the depth of
solidarity as has the cause of Buddhist monks who have led thousands of
dissidents in demonstrations against Burma's repressive regime. The built-in
accord could make room on this fall's crowded floor schedule for tightening
current U.S. sanctions on the isolated nation.
"Usually it's very hard to pass stand-alone legislation, but on Burma there is
such strong bipartisan support that I could see a package getting enough
consensus that it wouldn't need to be attached to an appropriations bill," the
Washington advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, Tom Malinowski, said.
Lantos and McCain are preparing to offer separate bills, likely this week, aimed
at closing loopholes in existing Burmese import bans, according to their
offices. Lantos leads the House's annual sanctions push against Burma, while
McCain — who said on the trail this weekend that the Burmese monks, not former
Vice President Al Gore, should have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize — called
for a multilateral arms embargo after scores of peaceful protesters were
arrested, beaten and fired upon by the regime soldiers.
"The danger is that this will slide into the background now that the images of
monks being shot and taken away are off the media headlines," said Michael
Green, a former senior Asia director at the National Security Council now with
the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "[Congress is] not going to
let this one go, and more power to them."
The Bush administration announced financial sanctions targeting 14 senior
members of Burma's ruling military last month, earning kudos from Congress as
well as calls from McCain and others to go further still. Eight senators wrote
to the leaders of the European Union on Friday urging them to join that effort.
Among them were Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-Del.), also
in the White House hunt, and the upper chamber's sanctions leaders, Minority
Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
"Coordinated action by the United States and Europe would increase the
likelihood that banks throughout the world will cooperate, and make it
impossible for Burma to evade sanctions by conducting financial transactions in
Euros," the senators wrote.
The strongest push to close sanctions loopholes deals with precious gems and
timber that are harvested in Burma and sold through a third country, enriching
the regime in the process. The trade association Jewelers of America asked
Congress to ban that practice last week, while Cartier and Bulgari barred sales
of Burmese jewels.
Another loophole catching activists' attention allows Chevron to maintain its
investment in a Burmese natural-gas field that provides vital cash reserves for
the ruling regime. Chevron defends its stake and contends that the project helps
employ impoverished locals, but Human Rights Watch, EarthRights International
and other groups are turning up the heat on the energy giant.
McCain's bill would add new financial sanctions and increase aid to democracy
activists in Burma, although how his and Lantos's plans will approach sanctions
loopholes remains to be seen. Chevron likely would lobby against any bill that
would imperil its gas deal.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), one of several senators who attended a pre-recess
meeting on Burma with the Chinese ambassador, said beefed-up U.S. sanctions
inadvertently could encourage Asian neighbors to bolster their ties to the
regime.
"Our focus ought to be on multilateral" sanctions, Kerry said. "If we just do
our American business piece, and we're all alone, it won't have an impact. It
will help, but it will be quickly replaced by Chinese companies or Indian
companies."
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), No. 2 in the Senate and chairman of the Judiciary
Committee's new human rights panel, said in a recent interview that he would
support such attempts to tighten sanctions. Durbin expressed concern that
Beijing is downplaying its ability to influence the Burmese junta.
"They diminished their power in the situation," Durbin said. "They have more
power than they're acknowledging. We can't allow this [situation in Burma] to
descend any further."
Jeremy Woodrum, director of the U.S. Campaign for Burma, cast doubt on
predictions that China and India could easily take over projects such as
Chevron's.
"There is a lot of Chinese investment but they're nowhere near approaching the
level of being able to replace U.S. and E.U. investment in the country," Woodrum
said.
Other efforts to press for democratic change in Burma have caught fire in the
capital this month.
House members from both parties have begun linking Burma to their call for a
boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an effort once identified chiefly with
protests against the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region. In addition, a new
grassroots group co-founded by MoveOn.org and dubbed
Avaaz.org has launched an ad
campaign and multinational petition backing the protests.
Compared with the Darfur movement, Malinowski said, "Burma has fewer hot movie
stars … but I think there are quite a few suffering places around the world that
would envy the attention Burma is getting right now."