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The United States Senate, on Tuesday, approved legislation banning the import of Burmese goods by a vote of 93 to 1.

The United States Senate, on Tuesday, approved legislation banning the import of Burmese goods by a vote of 93 to 1.

 

Kentucky Senator and joint sponsor of the legislation, Republican Mitch McConnell, painted the decision as one of good versus evil, a vote in favour of the suffering people of Burma and against a military regime guilty of criminal suppression.

 

"Let's show that we stand for freedom and against oppression — for real democratic progress and against hollow promises of reform—against the "poisonous plant" that is the SPDC," concluded Sen. McConnell in his speech on the Senate floor.

 

As a precondition to the removal of sanctions, the United States demands the release of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and meaningful steps toward ensuring the return of democracy.

 

"We will not remain silent. We will not remain still until Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners are released, and democratic government is restored in Burma," stated co-sponsor Senator Diane Feinstein, a Democrat from California.

 

Democratic Senator Max Baucus added to the sentiments in favor of the bill in a statement reading in part: "Burma's military junta continues to kill, rape, and dragoon people into forced labor."

 

Senators also, ahead of this weekend's ASEAN meetings in the Philippines, encouraged Southeast Asian countries to assist in pressuring the Burmese junta.

 

The lone vote against the renewal of import sanctions was cast by Republican Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming.
Sen. Enzi has long been a staunch defender of free trade.

 

In an opinion echoing his sentiments regarding the Burma legislation, Sen. Enzi earlier in the year released a statement claiming that "the U.S. can be of greater help to the people of Cuba by allowing the trade of products and ideas than it can by trying to force a change in government through unilateral isolation."

Passage by the Senate comes on the heels of approval, in a voice vote, given by the House of Representatives on Monday.
The bill now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it.