Press Release
Representative Bera Chairs House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Hearing on One-Year Anniversary of Burma Coup
Washington, DC,
February 17, 2022
Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, today chaired a Subcommittee hearing on the one-year anniversary of the Burma coup. "One year ago, the Burmese military flagrantly disregarded the will of the Burmese people and upended the country's democratic progress with a bloody coup. The Tatmadaw seizure and brutal repression have left hundreds of civilians dead, over two hundred thousand internally displaced, and the country's democratically elected leaders, human rights defenders, and journalists unjustly detained behind bars," said Chairman Bera. "Congress has consistently demonstrated bicameral and bipartisan support for the people of Burma, exemplified through the BURMA Act of 2021, which aims to establish further accountability for military officials and increase humanitarian aid in Burma. But as the crisis continues to escalate and the humanitarian situation worsens, we need to redouble our efforts and work with the international community to reach a durable political resolution. The United States Congress will continue to stand united in support of the brave people of Burma in their struggle for democracy. Expert witnesses included: Mr. Craig Hart, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for East Asia and the Pacific, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Mr. Kin Moy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State |