Coretta Scott King Mid-Decade Redistricting Prohibition Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a report from the Associated Press detailing the detention of AP reporter Thein Zaw by Burmese authorities.

[From the AP, Mar. 12, 2021]

Myanmar Court Extends Detention of AP Journalist

Yangon, Myanmar (AP).--A court in Myanmar extended on

Friday the pretrial detention of an Associated Press

journalist who was arrested while covering demonstrations

against a coup. He is facing a charge that could send him to

prison for three years.

Thein Zaw, 32, was one of nine media workers taken into

custody during a protest on Feb. 27 in Yangon, the country's

largest city, and has been held without bail. His next

hearing at the Kamayut Township court will be on March 24.

Friday's hearing, which Thein Zaw attended via

videoconference, came at the end of his initial remand

period.

Thein Zaw and at least six other members of the media have

been charged with violating a public order law, according to

his lawyer, Tin Zar Oo, and the independent Assistance

Association for Political Prisoners. Separate hearings were

held Friday for the other detained journalists.

Tin Zar Oo and one of Thein Zaw's brothers were allowed

into the courtroom to take part in the 10-minute

videoconference. Tin Zar Oo said she was able to submit

documents giving her power of attorney for the case, but only

at the next hearing might be allowed to submit a bail

application.

A representative of the U.S. Embassy was also present, said

Aryani Manring, a spokeswoman for the mission.

Thein Zaw had not been seen by his lawyer or any of his

family members since his arrest. Tin Zar Oo said visits at

lnsein Prison, where her client is being held, are not

allowed because of coronavirus concerns, so his family has

been dropping off food and supplies for him at the gate.

Tin Zar Oo said that her client looked healthy during

Friday's hearing, but he suffers from asthma at night. She

said Thein Zaw's brother noted that he had lost weight.

Thein Zaw was arrested as he was photographing police, some

of them armed, charging down a street at anti-coup

protesters. A video shows that although he stepped to the

side of the street to get out of their way, several police

rushed over and surrounded him. One put him in a chokehold as

he was handcuffed and then taken away.

According to the Assistance Association for Political

Prisoners, 38 journalists have been detained since the

military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on

Feb. 1. Nineteen are still incarcerated.

The group says it has verified the detentions of more than

2,000 people as well as 69 deaths.

On Friday, local media in Shan State in eastern Myanmar

reported that a freelance journalist from Poland had been

beaten and arrested by security forces.

The online Kanbawza Tai News said a foreign photojournalist

was arrested Thursday while taking pictures of a protest in

the city of Taunggyi. A photo provided to the news site shows

a man trapped against a wall with one arm raised as he is

surrounded by about 10 soldiers.

Germany's dpa news agency said the man, Robert Bociaga, 30,

has been working for the news service, and it has not been

able to contact him.

``We are deeply shocked by the arrest and apparent

mistreatment of Robert Bociaga,'' said the agency's editor-

in-chief, Sven Goesmann. ``This is an intolerable and

unacceptable attack on the freedom of the press and, even in

this brutal form, is unfortunately not an isolated case.''

The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrest of a

Polish journalist and said it was trying to contact the

detained man and obtain information about his health and

legal situation.

Earlier this week, Myanmar authorities canceled the

licenses of five local outlets that had extensively covered

the protests. Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma, Khit Thit

Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News have continued operating

despite being barred from broadcasting or publishing on any

media platform.

The Associated Press and many press freedom organizations

have called for the release of Thein Zaw and the other

detained journalists.

The U.S. government, in addition to criticizing the coup

and the violence of Myanmar's security forces, has condemned

the crackdown on the press in the Southeast Asian nation.

``We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on

the freedom of expression, including for members of the

press. We call for the release of journalists and for all

others who have been unjustly detained,'' U.S. State

Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in

Washington on Thursday.

Even during Suu Kyi's time in office, journalists were

often sued for their reporting.

In the highest-profile case, two journalists working for

the Reuters news agency were arrested in 2017 while working

on a story about military violence directed at Myanmar's

Rohingya minority. They were accused of illegally possessing

official documents and sentenced to seven years behind bars

before being freed in 2019 in a mass presidential pardon.

Mr. Zaw has been jailed for covering the violence leveled against anti-coup demonstrators in Burma.

Thanks to Mr. Zaw and other journalists on the ground, we know what is going on in Burma is pure evil. The autocratic strongmen leading this coup are using deadly force to crack down on all dissenting speech. Burmese authorities, under the direction of these military thugs, are actively murdering demonstrators, arresting thousands, and imprisoning international reporters covering the situation.

Senseless violence, military rule, and imprisoning political opponents all fly directly in the face of the democratic values we cherish as Americans.

Today, this Chamber has the opportunity to condemn the hostile takeover of the Burmese Government, defend the demonstrators looking for peace, and stand up for democracy in Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support both H. Res. 134 and H.R. 1112.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 134) condemning the military coup that took place on February 1, 2021, in Burma and the Burmese military detention of civilian leaders, calling for the release of all those detained and for those elected to serve in Parliament to resume their duties, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 134.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Levin for sponsoring this resolution, which condemns the military coup that occurred in Burma on February 1, 2021.

It has been more than 45 days since the Burmese military, also known as the Tatmadaw, arrested several democratically-elected members of government, including the President Win Myint, and the State Counselor, Aung San Suu Kyi, and declared a year-long state of emergency, and nullified the results of Burma's November 8, 2020, elections.

Despite Tatmadaw claims of election fraud, several independent election monitoring organizations found that the electoral process and outcome were credible, even despite minor irregularities.

Since the coup took place, we have seen thousands of protesters take to the streets to make sure that their voices were heard; voices in opposition to the coup and in support of democracy. And as those protests continued, we have seen security forces increasingly use violence in an attempt to quell the demonstrations.

The U.N. estimates that 149 people have been killed since the coup occurred on February 1. Fifty-seven people were killed this past weekend alone.

It is imperative that democracies around the world speak out in condemnation of this coup and the arrest of democratically-elected government officials. It is vital that we speak in support of democracy, of all of those members of civil society who have been arrested, and those in Burma who are protesting for the restoration of democracy. And it is important that we make it clear to the Tatmadaw, including through additional targeted sanctions that leverage sources of income for the military, that these actions are absolutely unacceptable.

We are sadly, in this body, all too familiar with the rippling effects of attempts to undo democratic elections. We have an obligation to speak up and speak out wherever democracy is threatened.

Madam Speaker, this is a very important resolution. I support it and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), a

valued member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and author of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the Burmese military respect the will of the Burmese people and, one, return power to those democratically elected; and, two, release civilian leaders taken into custody.

Daily protests against the military coup continue to occur in towns and cities throughout Burma, and the security forces are using increasing brutality to crack down against those demonstrating.

We must make it clear that the United States is watching and that we support the restoration of democracy.

Again, I want to thank Mr. Levin, the ranking member, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together so that the Burmese people know that the Congress of the United States of America stands together in their fight for democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding, and I thank the chairman for his leadership.

I would especially like to thank Mr. Levin for his resolution condemning the military coup in Burma, and calling for release of all those who have been detained, as well as restoring those elected to serve in Parliament to a position that allows them to fulfill their important duties.

I would also like to thank Mr. Connolly for his Protect Democracy in Burma Act, H.R. 1112, and the important report that it will authorize.

Mr. Speaker, 24 years ago, in 1997, I chaired my first hearing on Burmese human rights abuse, and chaired additional hearings after that, including in 1998 and 2006. I also introduced several resolutions addressing the ongoing egregious crisis, including H. Res. 1710, which decried the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and called on the Burmese military regime to end its campaign of religious and ethnic persecution of the Rohingya people, amounting to crimes against humanity.

Thus, after decades of abuse, rape, torture, and murder, it is incredibly tragic as to how little has changed in that country.

As H. Res. 134 points out, the Burmese Government's unlawful detention of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the crackdown on democracy advocates and the squelching of free expression and other fundamental civil and political rights, is outrageous and begs immediate reform and correction.

The United States must, and I believe will, in a bipartisan way, and with the executive branch taking the lead, do its part. Every sanction of leverage must be deployed, and we must call on all of our international partners to join us in those efforts.

The most glaring example of basic religious persecution, Mr. Speaker, is the oppression of Burma's Muslim Rohingya population. This persecution has been aided and abetted in part by religious and nationalist extremists such as the Buddhist monk Wirathu and the 969 movement.

We also see religious persecution intertwined with ethnic persecution, as in the case of the Karen, Kachin, and Shan people, many of whom are Christians. I have met many of them over the years.

Many of you have seen the riveting image of a Catholic nun, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawang, kneeling before a group of militarized police, pleading that they do not shoot the protesters. Sadly, at least two protesters lost their lives that day. But what gives us at least a glimmer of hope is that opposite Sister Ann Rose, two of the officers, who are presumably Buddhists, also got down on their knees in response that this ought to be peaceful and not violent.

It is an image which gives one some hope that the people of Burma can overcome their differences and unite for peace and justice and for the benefit of all Burmese, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on this.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for their support in bringing this resolution to the floor today.

Last month, the Burmese military, Tatmadaw, staged a coup and quashed Burma's fragile experiment with democracy.

Burma had struggled during that time to enfranchise its minority population, and to respect their human rights. The genocide of the Rohingya is perhaps the best known example, but it is far from the only one.

In fact, when Burma's November 8, 2020, elections resulted in the National League for Democracy winning an overwhelming victory and securing enough seats in Parliament to form the next government, it was notwithstanding the disenfranchisement of more than 1,500,000 voters, mostly from ethnic minority communities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, and Chin states.

The resolution before us today condemns the February 1st coup unequivocally and calls on the Tatmadaw to free all those they have detained arbitrarily and return members of the civilian government to power.

We are considering this resolution at a critical time. More than 2,100 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to the coup. The military and police have been ordered to fire on protesters. More than 200 people have been killed in cold blood in these violent crackdowns.

On top of mobile data blackouts, there is now concern that the Tatmadaw could cut off WiFi as well, and even reports of fiber lines being cut, which would cut off access to the internet altogether.

Clearly, there is no time to waste. The junta's rule must end. But it will not be enough simply to return to the status quo ante. This resolution calls on President Biden and Secretary Blinken to encourage not just the return to power of the civilian government, but also, subsequently, constitutional reforms to address the undemocratic power reserved for the Tatmadaw in Parliament, and the disenfranchisement of Burma's ethnic minorities.

Democracy is something we must ever defend and nurture. That is why we who believe that all people are created equal and must be treated as such, whether here in America or anywhere else around the globe, must speak up, not only for full civilian control in Burma, but also for democracy, not for some, but for all.

And so this resolution makes clear that Congress stands with all of the people of Burma in their ambition for sustainable peace, a genuine democracy, and the realization of human rights for all.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Chabot for authoring this resolution with me, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Bera, Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and all of my colleagues who have cosponsored this important resolution, which I am proud to say, on a completely bipartisan basis, we passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the ranking member for his leadership on this issue and so many issues that are so significant across the globe. Fortunately, our committee usually works in a bipartisan manner, so I want to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, especially the chairman, for his leadership on this as well.

As the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, I rise today in support of H.R. 134, legislation that Congressman Levin and I introduced condemning the Burmese military's February 1 coup against the civilian government. The military's decision to seize control and detain top political leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, was a brazen assault on Burma's fledgling democracy.

Self-government is not some sort of temporary arrangement or a gift from the military. Burma's generals cannot simply back out of democracy when it no longer serves their purposes.

The situation has only gotten worse since the coup began. To date, the military has killed hundreds of people and has detained thousands of innocent people as political prisoners, and the conditions in many instances are horrible.

What the military is doing here is just unconscionable. These murders and detentions are blatant violations of the rights of the Burmese people who, after all, only want to have what so many other countries have across the globe, and that is the ability to determine their own leadership and their own course of action for their own families and their children and grandchildren.

We should honor--the whole world really should honor--the courage of the Burmese people who have been peacefully protesting for quite some time

now. Their bravery and determination are recognized and supported across the globe. America and the world stand with them in their struggle against tyranny.

Unfortunately, the PRC in this case and in so many other cases across the globe, whether it is Cambodia or other areas where they tend, their actions are malevolent. They are undermining democracy; they are undermining freedom; and they are undermining legitimate governments. They are rewarding bad behavior, as they are doing in this case, and that is too bad because the PRC wants to be a major force and wants to be a country that other countries can look up to.

Unfortunately, they are doing all the wrong things too often, and that is what they are doing here as well. Rather than putting pressure on the military in Burma, they are essentially looking the other way or supporting them in what they are doing.

The bravery and determination of the people must be recognized across the globe.