Aung San Suu Kyi

Floor Speech

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would like to briefly discuss a troubling situation a world away in Burma. The situation involves Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who, this very morning, stood trial--stood trial this very morning--for permitting a misguided soul to enter her house.

With some regularity, we in the West are reminded of the tyranny that exists in this troubled land.

In 2007, Buddhist monks and other peaceful Burmese protesters were brutally put down by Government authorities. Scores were slain, hundreds more were imprisoned or had to flee the country simply to survive.

In 2008, Burma was lashed by a terrible cyclone. This natural disaster was exacerbated by a manmade disaster: the dismal relief and response effort of the governing State Peace and Development Council, which refused outside aid in the immediate aftermath, resulting in untold numbers of Burmese citizens dying. At the same time, the regime devoted its energies to its referendum of its new Constitution, a document clearly intended to permanently entrench military rule.

In 2009, this familiar pattern of governmental malfeasance has continued. First, the Government refused to permit Suu Kyi's doctor to see her, despite her very poor health. Then the Government took the flimsiest of pretexts to drag Suu Kyi into this trial.

It was in this context that the Obama administration last week issued an Executive order extending for another year sanctions against the Burmese regime. I applaud the administration for taking this step, and I look forward to working with the administration once it has concluded its review of Burma policy, which I have discussed on several occasions with Secretary Clinton.

The Government of Burma should be aware that its actions are highly troubling to democracies the world over.

This is reflected not only in the administration's new Executive order but also in the strong support the Burmese people enjoy in the Senate. My colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle will continue to follow Suu Kyi's trial with great interest and deep concern.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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