Del. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Holds a Hearing On the Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

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Del. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega Holds a Hearing On the Aftermath of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA, THE PACIFIC, AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT HOLDS A HEARING ON THE AFTERMATH OF CYCLONE NARGIS IN MYANMAR

MAY 20, 2008

SPEAKERS: DEL. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, D-A.S. CHAIRMAN REP. ADAM SMITH, D-WASH. REP. GARY L. ACKERMAN, D-N.Y. REP. GREGORY W. MEEKS, D-N.Y. REP. DIANE WATSON, D-CALIF. REP. RUBEN HINOJOSA, D-TEXAS REP. ALBIO SIRES, D-N.J. REP. HOWARD L. BERMAN, D-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

REP. DONALD MANZULLO, R-ILL. RANKING MEMBER REP. DAN BURTON, R-IND. REP. DANA ROHRABACHER, R-CALIF. REP. ED ROYCE, R-CALIF. REP. STEVE CHABOT, R-OHIO REP. JEFF FLAKE, R-ARIZ. REP. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, R-FLA. EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: SCOT MARCIEL, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

GREG GOTTLIEB, DEPUTY ASSISTANT, U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATOR, BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

SEIN WIN, PRIME MINISTER, NATIONAL COALITION GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF BURMA

THOMAS ANDREWS, PRESIDENT, NEW ECONOMY COMMUNICATIONS

[*] FALEOMAVAEGA: Subcommittee hearing will come to order.

This is the subcommittee hearing on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia Pacific and the Global Environment. The topic for discussion of this oversight hearing is Burma and the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, death and displacement and humanitarian aid and the questions that are being raised by the members of this committee.

We have two distinguished members in the first panel, my good friend the Deputy Assistant Secretary Mr. Marciel and also the Deputy Assistant Administrator Mr. Gottlieb, that will be our first witnesses to testify this morning.

I will begin the hearing this morning with my opening statement, and I know my good friend the ranking member of this subcommittee, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Manzullo, will be joining us later.

I'm also happy to see that we have a distinguished member of our subcommittee here joining us, the ambassador and distinguished colleague from California Congresswoman Diane Watson here with us.

On May 3 of this year, Cyclone Nargis hit Burma, killing more than 100,000 people so far known. According to the United Nations, up to 2.5 million people in Burma may be affected due to the shortage of food, fuel, clean water and electricity.

While the United Nations teams are on the ground, the military leaders delaying aid and imposing travel restrictions on those providing assistance. Our own congressional research service reports that, despite pledges of cash, supplies and assistance from around the world, most aid agencies have not been able to be granted visas to enter Burma or Myanmar, and there is still no word on when visas will be issued.

It is also reported that a relatively small number of foreign-aid workers, mostly from Asian countries, will be allowed in, but it is not clear how far outside Rangoon they will be allowed to travel because the military leaders insist that they can manage the relief effort and do not need experts.

As of May 15, the international community had pledged more than $60 million in contributions and in-kind pledges. Japan and the United Kingdom have provided $10 million each, and the U.S. Agency for International Development -- or USAID -- reports that total humanitarian funding provided by the United States is $17.5 million to date.

U.S. airlifts of relief materials are being flown from Thailand to Rangoon, and I want to commend our ambassador and my good friend ambassador to Thailand, Ambassador Eric John, for the excellent work he is doing on behalf of the United States at this critical time.

I also want to express my disappointment, however, that the military leaders proceeded with a vote on its proposed constitution at a time when the Burmese people and the people of Myanmar are desperately trying to hold onto life and recover from the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis.

While voting was delayed for most of the townships around Rangoon and in seven of the townships in Irrawaddy region, reports are swirling that the turnout for the rest of Burma was light and marred with voting irregularities, including premarked ballots, voter intimidation, et cetera. On the other hand, the SPDC reports that more than 99 percent of eligible voters voted and that 92.4 percent voted in favor the constitution drafted by the SPDC.

On May 6 of this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolut...

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