April 25, 2007

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today condemned the brutal beating of two Burmese human rights defenders by thugs of the country’s ruling military regime.

“The Burmese regime continues to terrorize its own people,” Lantos said. “They are made to pay a vile price for standing up for their rights. The international community must act to stop the ongoing and horrific abuses in Burma.”

The two human rights activists, Myint Naing and Maung Maung Lay, were attacked for conducting training on issues that included introductions to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The young men were beaten bloody by the Union Solidarity and Development Association, the same hit squad that attacked Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.  The men are currently in a Rangoon hospital being treated for serious head injuries.

The attacks highlight the complete disregard Burma’s military regime has for human rights and for the United Nations documents that enshrine those rights. Lantos reiterated United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s call for the Burmese military regime to release Aung San Suu Kyi and to work with the United Nations on a plan for political change. He also called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to pressure Burma to help end the suffering of the Burmese people.