Re: Speech before US Congress

On Apr 16, 9:45 pm, "labor" <la...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
April 15, U Kovida
Speech before US Congress

Respected Congressmen, staff members, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would like, first of all, to offer my sincere THANKS to all of you who
have given me a chance to share what I have experienced and those who are
here to listen and pay attention to what I have to say.

Secondly, I would like to thank the President of the United States and the
American people for giving me this opportunity to explain the predicament
and dire situation the people are facing in Burma on behalf of our leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the oppressed Burmese.

I am, as you all know, one of the participants during the so-called
"Saffron-Revolution" in September 2007. Burma is infamous for its
violation of Basic Human Rights, disrespect to the freedom of religion,
one of the least developed and poorest countries in the world with the
lowest living standard where the civil war has been going on for the past
50 years.

These are the reason why we, people of Burma, have wanted a change in the
government system. We have wanted to have a higher living standard, and
lived in a better and developed country. The people in Burma have
struggled and fought for change since 1962. We have struggled and fought
to achieve such change throughout the history and the demonstrations and
protests in 1962, 1974, 1988, 1996, 2003, and 2007 are significant. But
all of our voices, pleas and struggles were answered by the brutality of
the military government which used weapons, brutal suppressions, torture,
and imprisonments.

The international community witnessed the brutal suppression of monks who
demonstrated peacefully in September 2007. But there have been many
incidents of oppressions, violation and torture that have been going on
inside Burma without anyone knowing for many decades.

What I would like to point out here in the harmless and helpless Burmese
have very high hope and are depending on the assistance and intervention
from the United Nations and the international community in the past 20
years. Sadly and unfortunately, there hasn't been any positive effect on
the people of Burma. There were so many decisions by the United Nations.
There were many UN representatives who have visited Burma, but the future
looks bleak. We were greatly discouraged by the fact that the Security
Council merely suggested the military which was killing its own people and
monks, to engage in talks. What I am saying to you now is exactly what the
people of Burma would like to speak out.

Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Burma are not only suffering from
extreme poverty, hardship, sub-standard in health care, education and
social services but also facing oppression by the military government on a
daily basis. When monks in Burma understood, realized, and felt the
hardship the people had to go through, we decided to protest peacefully on
behalf of the people. And everyone knows how we were dealt with. We
appreciate that you are trying to oppose the constitution drafted by the
military and its hand-picked representatives. We strongly support your
effort at the UN to reject any referendum and constitutions without the
participation of all people concerned.

Right now the military government is planning to have a constitutional
referendum in May. In many areas in Burma, people are illegally forced as
well as offered financial incentives to vote. In other area, people are
threatened. Some of the activists were brutally beaten up by unknown
assailants very recently. The closer the May referendum is, the more
scared and concerned the people are about their safety and security.
Securities have been tightened inside Rangoon. Police and security forces
are deployed on the main streets of Rangoon.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to emphasize the fact that we need help
and assistance in order to change the government system in Burma. We
cannot accept the constitutional referendum and planned general election
in 2010 organized by the military government which totally ignored the
results of people voices in 1990 general election, and whose sole aim is
to prolong and ensure the military influence in Burma politics for many
more years to come. We strongly urge you to reject any effort by the
military government to legitimize itself.

In conclusion, I would like to thank once again the international
community, governments and administrations, respected congressman as well
as the people who love democracy and who are supporting our course. I
thank the Refugee International to facilitate my appearance here at the
congress.

Having said that (in burmese)
Dog awaits elephant hairy stuff located between a couple of legs?
.

Relevant Pages

  • Speech before US Congress
    ... Speech before US Congress ... Respected Congressmen, staff members, Ladies and Gentlemen. ... Burma is infamous for its ... the military government which used weapons, brutal suppressions, torture, ...
    (soc.culture.burma)
  • Re: Speech before US Congress
    ... Speech before US Congress ... Respected Congressmen, staff members, Ladies and Gentlemen. ... Burma is infamous for its ... the military government which used weapons, brutal suppressions, torture, ...
    (soc.culture.burma)
  • Re: Speech before US Congress
    ... Speech before US Congress ... Respected Congressmen, staff members, Ladies and Gentlemen. ... Burma is infamous for its ... the military government which used weapons, brutal suppressions, torture, ...
    (soc.culture.burma)
  • Tripartite talks in Burma difficult: western consultant
    ... Tripartite talks in Burma difficult: western consultant ... The relationship between the military government, NGOs, international ...
    (soc.culture.burma)