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The Burmese Democracy
Promotion Act of 2007 (Senate) and the
Block Burmese JADE (Junti Anti Democratic
Efforts) has the power to force the regime
to negotiate with Burma's democracy leaders
and Ethnic nationalities. We must show
the people of Burma that the U.S. is taking
action to support their calls for freedom,
democracy and human rights. Call your
Senator today asking him/her to support
the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act! Organize
your community to call in as well. Contact
details for your Senators are given below.
What the Acts Do:
The regime makes hundreds of millions
of dollars each year off the sale of gems
and timber. More than 90 percent of the
world's rubies and fine-quality jade comes
from Burma. The new sanctions will crack
down on the regime's practice of avoiding
U.S. sanctions by laundering gemstones
and other products, especially timber,
through third countries before they are
sold.
This Act also freezes the assets of Burmese
political and military leaders, prevents
Burma from using U.S. financial institutions
via third countries to launder the funds
of those leaders or their immediate families,
and prohibits Burmese officials involved
in the violent suppression of protesters
from receiving visas to the United States.
Burma also uses third countries to access
the U.S. banking system. These overseas
banks process accounts in and through
the United States for Burma's rulers,
providing the regime with much-needed
hard currency. The regime uses these funds
to purchase weapons and luxury goods,
while the bulk of Burma's population lives
in poverty.
Biden and McConnell's legislation tightens
existing sanctions to prevent Burma's
military rulers from profiting from sales
to the United States, and blocks access
to the U.S. financial system not just
for Burmese human rights violators but
also to those who provide the regime with
banking services.
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.
These Acts, if passed, would be the strongest
action yet that the U.S. takes to pressure
Burma's military regime to negotiate with
Burma's democracy leaders and ethnic nationalities.
To read the legislation:
House : Block
Burmese JADE (Junta Anti-Democratic Efforts)
Act
Senate: Burmese
Democracy Promotion Act
Contact information:
Call your Senators/ Representative's
offices and ask to speak with their foreign
policy staffer. If s/he is not there leave
a message and ask her/him to call you
back. Call today and every day until you
get an answer!
Find Your Representative: www.house.gov
Find Your Senator: www.senate.gov
Senate: To add their name as
a cosponsor: Let them know that
to co-sponsor (Burmese Democracy Promotion
Act of 2007 - S.2257)Democrats should
contact Frank Jannuzi at the Committee
on Foreign Relations at 202-224-4651
Republicans should contact Reb Brownell
in Senator McConnell's office at 202-224-2541
House: To add their name as a
co-sponsor: Let them know that
to co-sponsor they should contact Eric
Richardson at the Committee on Foreign
Affairs office at eric.richardson@mail.house.gov
or 225-5021.
Talking Points for Staffer:
- Tell the staffer you want your Senator
to co-sponsor the Burmese Democracy Promotion
Act of 2007
- Give her/him proof that this policy
works. It cuts off hundreds of millions
of dollars to the regime and will specifically
target the top generals' finances.
- Mention that the military junta still
deserves sanctions. On top of brutally
crushing thousands of peaceful demonstrators,
including monks, the military regime has
destroyed more than 3,000 villages. It
has forcibly displaced more than half
a million people inside Burma as well
as causing a million refugees to flee
across the border to neighboring countries
and has made no efforts to move toward
democracy.
- Let her/him know it is important to
send a strong signal to the regime that
the US government will continue to keep
American money out the hands of the junta.
- This is not the only action being taken
against Burma. On top of many diplomatic
efforts, the EU has imposed new sanctions,
as well as Australia, and even Japan has
decreased aid to Burma.
- Finally ask the staffer to call you
back when your Senator has co-sponsored
the Burmese Democracy Promotion Act. Important:
Leave your phone number!
Let him/her know that his/her constituents
care about Burma!
Check up to see if they cosponsor:
It's easy to check and see if they follow
through and agree to cosponsor. THOMAS,
the Library of Congress' congressional
records database updates a list of all
information on legislation. Click
Here to find out who has signed as
cosponsors in the House, and Click
Here to see who has signed as cosponsors
in the Senate.
Please let me know when you have contacted
your Senator and how it went - thelma@uscampaignforburma.org.
These new sanctions will hit the regime
where it hurts.
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