THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, GEORGE, COHEN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, MUNDY, SIPTROTH, YOUNGBLOOD, GINGRICH, DENLINGER, BRADFORD, RAPP, MURT AND MELIO, JULY 20, 2009

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009   

A RESOLUTION

Calling on the United Nations to facilitate the immediate and

unconditional release of National League for Democracy leader

Dr. Aung San Suu Kyi from continued detention by the Burmese

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military government and other political prisoners from

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continued detention by the Burmese military government;

noting the release of John William Yettaw; and calling on the

United States Department of State to impose strict economic

sanctions against Burma (Myanmar).

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania recognize and condemn the Burmese (Myanmar)

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military junta's unlawful and cruel treatment of more than 2,000

political prisoners, including Dr. Suu Kyi; and

WHEREAS, Burma's (Myanmar's) military government has

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subjected the Nobel Peace Prize laureate to house arrest since

1989; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi was initially detained for pro-reform

demonstrations as a founder of the National League for

Democracy; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi was named Amnesty International's

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Ambassador of Conscience on July 28, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Myanmar's Burma's (Myanmar's) 1975 State Protection

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Act empowers the government to hold persons for up to five years

without trial; and

WHEREAS, The government has illegally extended Dr. Suu Kyi's

detention, providing for her repeated release and reconfinement;

and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi's detention period beginning in May 2003

was illegally extended for one year on May 27, 2008, and was

officially lifted on May 26, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi is now an inmate of Insein Prison,

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facing trial and conviction was convicted on August 11, 2009, 

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and is appealing her conviction at Yangon Divisional Court for

violating the terms of her house arrest; and

WHEREAS, The charges stem from an incident on May 14, 2009,

when John William Yettaw, an American who illegally entered

Burma (Myanmar), swam to Dr. Suu Kyi's waterfront home and

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sheltered there, pleading exhaustion; and

WHEREAS, United States Senator Jim Webb, chairman of the East

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Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on

Foreign Relations, visiting Burma (Myanmar), secured the

released on August 16, 2009, of John William Yettaw on

humanitarian grounds; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Yettaw, a United States military veteran, had

been sentenced to seven years of hard labor for illegally

entering Dr. Suu Kyi's house; and

WHEREAS, Burma's (Myanmar's) government did not honor Senator

Webb's request of amnesty for Dr. Suu Kyi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi's own health is deteriorating as her

confinement has been illegally extended; and

WHEREAS, Dehydration, low blood pressure and dangerous weight

loss are some of the physical conditions Dr. Suu Kyi is believed

to have developed; and

WHEREAS, Security forces detained Dr. Suu Kyi's personal

physician, Dr. Tin Myo Win, after having denied him entry to her

home in May 2009; and

WHEREAS, The United States State Department of State has said

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that Burmese (Myanmar) authorities are pursuing unjustified and

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indefensible charges against Dr. Suu Kyi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi's extended detainment violates

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international law; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Suu Kyi's extended detainment violates Burma's

domestic legislation; and

WHEREAS, Various governments, international agencies and

nongovernmental organizations have called for the immediate

release of Dr. Suu Kyi; therefore be it and

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WHEREAS, International governments have called for the

imposition of economic sanctions against the military regime of

Burma (Myanmar) to restrict trade and arms supplies; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania call on the United Nations to

facilitate the immediate and unconditional release of National

League for Democracy leader Dr. Aung Suu Kyi from continued

detention by the Burmese military government; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania note the release of John William

Yettaw, who was convicted and sentenced to seven years of hard

labor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, concerned by the harsh punishment

and repression exercised by the Burma (Myanmar) military regime,

call on the United Nations to secure the release of all

political prisoners and prisoners of conscience; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Ambassador Susan Rice in care

of the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York,

140 East 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 and to the United

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States Department of State.