When you translate the name Aung San Suu Kyi, it means Bright Collection of Strange Victories. And there is some bright news from Burma today. The UN envoy is reporting that she is in good health, though she is still being held in “protective custody.”
Meanwhile, on the floor of the US Senate this morning, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act is coming up for debate. The bill calls on the generals who now rule Burma (or Myanmar, as they call it) to stop human rights abuses, release all political prisoners and transfer power to a popularly elected government, and threatens to ban all Burmese imports to the U.S if they don’t.
But years of other sanctions, along with Free Burma campaigns from college campuses to state governments, have had very little impact on the generals.
Guests:
US Senator John McCain, co-sponsor, “Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003″
Priscilla Clapp, former Charge d’Affaires, United States Embassy, Rangoon, Burma
Brad Adams, executive director, Asia Divisision, Human Rights Watch
Larry Jagan, BBC Burma Analyst.