•HRES 274 IH
Whereas the peace agreements signed by the SLORC with
ethnic insurgencies since 1989 were supposed to lead to
both a decrease in opium production and economic devel-
opment, but according to the State Department’s report,
‘‘neither development nor a reduction in opium cultiva-
tion has occurred’’;
Whereas in 1948 when Burma became independent, the an-
nual production of opium was 30 tons, Burma was then
a democracy, it exported rice to its neighbors and the
world, and it enjoyed a free-market system;
Whereas today Burma is one of the poorest nations in the
world and its opium production has increased some 8,000
percent to about 2,575 tons (1992–1993);
Whereas the drug production increase is the consequence in
large degree of the inability of the successive military
governments in Rangoon to come to terms with the coun-
try’s ethnic minorities and the refusal of post-1962 mili-
tary-dominated regimes to permit an open pluralistic so-
ciety;
Whereas it is primarily through a democratically elected civil-
ian government in Burma, supported by the Burmese
people including the ethnic minorities, that Burma can
make significant progress in controlling narcotics produc-
tion and trafficking;
Whereas on July 10, 1995, the SLORC responded to inter-
national pressure, including 5 resolutions by the United
Nations General Assembly, by releasing Aung San Suu
Kyi, who had been held under house arrest for 6 years;
Whereas 16 elected Members of Parliament remain in deten-
tion in Burma, along with thousands of other political
prisoners, according to Human Rights Watch/Asia, Am-
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nesty International, and other human rights monitoring
groups;
Whereas in July 1995 the International Committee of the
Red Cross (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘ICRC’’) closed
its office in Burma due to the SLORC’s refusal to agree
to allow the ICRC confidential regular access to pris-
oners;
Whereas the United States ambassador to the United Na-
tions visited Burma in September 1995, met with Aung
San Suu Kyi, and also met with leaders of the SLORC
and urged them to ‘‘choose the path’’ of ‘‘democracy,
rather than continued repression and dictatorial control,’’
and declared that ‘‘fundamental change in the United
States policy towards Burma would depend on fundamen-
tal change in the SLORC’s treatment of the Burmese
people; and
Whereas the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma,
Professor Yozo Yokota, visited the country in October
1995 and will deliver a preliminary report of his findings
to the current session of the United Nations General As-
sembly: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls
on—
(1) the Burmese Government to immediately
begin a political dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi,
other democratic leaders, and representatives of the
ethnic minorities to release immediately and uncon-
ditionally detained Members of Parliament and other
political prisoners, to repeal repressive laws which
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prohibit freedom of association and expression and
the right of citizens to participate freely in the polit-
ical life of their country, to resume negotiations with
the International Committee of the Red Cross on ac-
cess to prisoners, and help control the massive flow
of heroin from Burma; and
(2) the President, the Secretary of State, and
the United States ambassador to the United Nations
to actively support and promote a resolution at the
upcoming session of the Third Committee of the
United Nations General Assembly reiterating the
grave concerns of the international community and
calling on the SLORC to take concrete, significant
steps to fulfill its obligations to guarantee respect to
basic human rights and to restore civilian, demo-
cratic rule to the people of Burma.
Æ