CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE November 17, 2005 the Threat of Saddam Hussein, the Ple of Burma Live in the Darkness of Tyr- Case
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27062 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE November 17, 2005 the threat of Saddam Hussein, the ple of Burma live in the darkness of tyr- case. A total of 186 media people (112 journal- same way that President Bush was anny—but the light of freedom shines in ists, 3 assistants and 71 cyber-dissidents) are making those estimates. their hearts. They want their liberty—and imprisoned in 23 countries. What crimes have The Robb-Silberman commission one day, they will have it. they committed? They have revealed sen- sitive issue, called for democracy and great- found Presidential daily briefings to These words should ring loudly and clearly throughout the region. I com- er respect for individual freedoms, refused to contain similar intelligence in ‘‘more give in to censorship or to an enforced line of alarmist’’ and ‘‘less nuanced’’ lan- mend President Bush for these com- thought. In short, they simply tried to do guage. Continuing to quote: ments and for the solid leadership he their jobs. As problematic as the October 2002 [Na- provides in supporting freedom in In an appeal for solidarity with imprisoned tional Intelligence Estimate] was, it was not Burma. Moreover, I applaud the efforts journalists, Reporters Without Borders is or- the Community’s biggest analytic failure on made by President Bush and Secretary ganizing the 16th consecutive annual day of Iraq. Even more misleading was the river of Rice to put Burma on the U.N. Secu- action. We are urging the worldwide news intelligence that flowed from the CIA to top rity Council’s agenda. media- throughout the world— to acknowl- policymakers over long periods of time—in edge the fate of those who have to struggle the President’s Daily Brief and in its more f every day for the right to report the news. widely distributed companion, the Senior SUPPORT FOR JAILED To break the silence concerning their plight and to bring it to the public attention Executive Intelligence Brief. These daily re- JOURNALISTS DAY ports were, if anything, more alarmist and of the public, Reporters Without Borders less nuanced than the [National Intelligence Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today is calls on the news media to highlight the case Estimate]. ‘‘action day’’ to support jailed journal- of an imprisoned journalist on this year’s That is what one former Democratic ists around the world, as declared by ‘‘action day’’, Thursday, November 17. Senator and a Republican judge, ap- the independent organization, Report- The jails of three countries alone are hold- ing more than half of the world’s imprisoned pointed to a commission to look into ers Without Borders. I rise today to ex- journalists. The three countries that con- this, have reported. When you take all press my support for this cause and to stitute the world’s biggest prisons traps for of these things into consideration, plus emphasize that our country has long the press are China (with 31 journalists be- the quotes of Senator CLINTON that I believed that a free press is a corner- hind bars), Cuba (23), and Eritrea (13). referred to in the year 2002 that I saw stone of democracy, both here and Mobilization is needed to ease the harsh re- on television last night, or the state- abroad. Last year, at my urging, Con- ality of prison conditions. Denied contact ments by President Clinton in 1998 gress created a free press institute at with their families and even proper nourish- when he was President that I saw on the National Endowment for Democ- ment, most of these journalists live within poor or non-existent sanitary conditions. television last night, it seems to me it racy to promote, as part of our democ- They are frequently isolated from fellow is absolutely wrong and misleading to racy-building efforts, free, independent prisoners and left to cope in terrible isola- come up here and say the President of and sustainable news media organiza- tion. the United States and the Vice Presi- tions overseas. This year, I introduced The purpose of this Day is above to free dent were deceiving the American peo- the Free Flow of Information Act to these journalists from yet another prison, ple, particularly when Senators can allow journalists in this country to that of silence and oblivion. Unless their have briefings if they want them. protect the identity of their confiden- cases are regularly brought before inter- tial sources. After I introduced the leg- national public the guilty governments will f retain impunity. They will have no reason to islation, a reporter for one of Amer- FREEDOM IN ASIA AND BURMA worry about the fate of prisoners in their ica’s most respected media organiza- jails. Publicity thus becomes a sort of ‘‘life Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I tions, Judith Miller of the New York insurance’’ contributing directly to the pro- want to take a moment to commend Times, was jailed for 85 days for failing tection of the prisoners. President Bush for his superb remarks to disclose a confidential source, while It also allows a furtherance of the struggle regarding freedom and democracy in another, Matt Cooper of Time maga- begun by the imprisoned journalists. Articles Asia. It is fitting that these comments zine, was also threatened with jail for that media write about them underscore the were made in Japan, a key strategic the same reason. I believe that in order reasons and the circumstances of their arrest as well as the issues the journalists were ally of the United States. for the United States to foster the I will not recount the entire speech— working on before they were imprisoned. In spread of freedom and democracy glob- speaking about their case, the sponsor cir- which I encourage all my colleagues to ally, we must support an open and free cumvents the censorship they suffered and read—but will highlight two para- press at home. exposes the unfairness of their imprison- graphs. The President said: According to Reporters Without Bor- ment. Unlike China, some Asian nations still ders, 112 journalists are currently A media’s decision to cover the plight of a have not taken even the first steps toward jailed in 23 countries, including places journalist demonstrates its commitment to freedom. These regimes understand that eco- like China, Cuba, Eritrea, and Burma. defend the right to freely inform and to be nomic liberty and political liberty go hand informed. It allows journalists to show their in hand, and they refuse to open up at all. This is not good company for the solidarity with colleagues with whom they The ruling parties in these countries have United States to keep. I urge the ad- share their passion for a job that is so cru- managed to hold onto power. The price of ministration and our diplomats over- cial to ensuring democracy. Since this cam- their refusal to open up is isolation, back- seas to do everything they can to gain paign was launched in 1989, more than 100 wardness, and brutality. By closing the door the release of these jailed journalists, journalists have been sponsored by media all to freedom, they create misery at home and who were doing nothing more than try- around the world. Some media outlets de- sow instability abroad. These nations rep- ing to keep their fellow citizens in- cided to cover their plight without endorsing resent Asia’s past, not its future. formed. I ask unanimous consent that one particular case. Almost half of them We see that lack of freedom in Burma—a have been released and in part as a result of nation that should be one of the most pros- the following information from Report- the support from their sponsors. Several perous and successful in Asia but is instead ers Without Borders be printed in the journalists sponsored by International media one of the region’s poorest. Fifteen years RECORD. have been released like Fatimah Nisreen ago, the Burmese people cast their ballots— There being no objection, the mate- (The Maldives) amnestied on 9 May 2005 or and they chose democracy. The government rial was ordered to be printed in the Raul Rivero (Cuba) released on 30 November responded by jailing the leader of the pro-de- RECORD, as follows: 2004. mocracy majority. The result is that a coun- On the day of their release, many journal- try rich in human talent and natural re- 16TH JAILED JOURNALISTS’ SUPPORT DAY, ists stressed the value of not feeling ‘‘utterly sources is a place where millions struggle THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2005. forgotten’’. It gave them the courage to con- simply to stay alive. The abuses by the Bur- Reporters Without Borders calls on the tinue to bear their imprisonment. mese military are widespread, and include media to demonstrate their solidarity with The struggle the news media undertake rape, and torture, and execution, and forced imprisoned journalists. We were exception- alongside Reporters Without Borders to de- relocation. Forced labor, trafficking in per- ally active when journalists were being held fend the existence of a free press is not hope- sons, and use of child soldiers, and religious hostage in Iraq, and our challenges may less. Even when those steps appear to have discrimination are all too common. The peo- seem less urgent now. But that is not the been in vain, we know that international VerDate Sep 11 2014 10:59 Mar 02, 2017 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00512 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\FDSYS\2005BOUNDRECORD\BOOK20\BR17NO05.DAT BR17NO05 ejoyner on DSK30MW082PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE November 17, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 27063 backing for a prisoner brings essential psy- He had to answer 10 charges, based on com- or imprisoned, waging public- awareness chological support and often protects his or plaints filed by the ministry of intelligence, campaigns and taking care offering help to her life.