Co-Founder and Executive Director of EarthRights International Ka Hsaw Wa says the way workers in Burma are treated by the military are unbearable. He also says that American companies in Burma don’t do anything about it. (1:18)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the U.S. must assume a role in business to fight violations of human rights. He added that this issue is very complicated, “not a black and white issue.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said that there is no excuse for companies, both national and international, to fail at protecting human rights. The Senate Judiciary Committee met to discuss international violations of human rights and the response from the United States.
In 2003, fatalities in the Niger Delta were “comparable to Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action Nnimmo Bassey. Bassey said that the abundance of oil in the Niger Delta has made things worse. Oil has contributed to “50 years of dashed hope,” continued Bassey. Senior Vice President for Social Research and Policy for Calvert Bennett Freeman called the Niger Delta “one of the most dangerous places to work in the world.
Co-Founder and Executive Director of EarthRights International Ka Hsaw Wa spoke about the conditions in Burma. He said that companies, such as Chevron, that work in Burma along the Yadana Pipeline are allowing human rights violations, including murder and torture, to happen without confrontation. These companies are “representatives of the United States,” said Wa. He urged the U.S. government to hold these companies accountable.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the State Department Jeffrey Krilla said the government has established an organization called Voluntary Principles (VP) to thwart human rights violations abroad. Currently, VP has four member nations; the U.S., the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway. He said the goal of VP was to work with international governments to find ways of enforcing human rights laws committed by private corporations. While VP has helped dialogue on human rights abroad, it is “not a cure-all,” said Krilla.
Briefer: White House Press Secretary Dana Perino
Schedule:
The President had his normal briefings this morning. At 10.30 am, the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in the signing of H.J Res. 93, the Renewal of Import Restrictions on Burman and in the signing of H.R 3890, the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE (Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts). At 10.45 am, President Bush signs H.R. 1553, the Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008. This afternoon at 1.25 pm, the President departs the White House heading to Ohio. He will make remarks on energy and the economy at the Lincoln Electric Company Euclid, Ohio. At 5.45 pm, President Bush attends a Congressional Trust 2008 Reception at a private residence at Gates Mills, Ohio.
There will no be briefing today
Energy
Perino said that Congress goes on their recess by the end of the week leavening several proposals in the air, including opening energy resources such as ANWR, off shore drilling, oil shale, and streamlining opening refineries. She also said that the President will discuss all of this in his remarks later today. In the President’s cabinet meeting tomorrow they will discuss energy needs, which are the most important needs facing Americans today. Asked several questions about people driving less, Perino said that this shows laws of supply and demand, she also said that the Administration will look for way to bring the prices down. When asked about the highway trust fund, she said that the President has a way to address it in the budget and she does not believe that the way to deal with it is raising taxes.
Iraq
Asked about the uptick in Iraq, Perino said that there was a lot less violence and a need for flexibility with the military, and that we still have a determined enemy. She also said that high profile attacks using female bomber is deplorable.
Housing Bill
Dana said: “ At some time it is going to irresponsible if they don’t sent it [the housing bill]” She continued to say, that they need to send the bill to us and again pushing the White House concept of the- do-nothing-Congress, they are back in town over a long weekend recess. She also said that “you can’t put a timetable when the housing market rebounds”.
Serbia
When asked about US efforts to catch Karadzic, Perino said that over the years we have been supporting of efforts, “that is all I can say”.
Burma
Dana said that sanctions can work and the goal is to squeeze the people that are pressing people and not the people.
A discussion on U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia was held at the Woodrow Wilson Center. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel spoke at the event and gave his updates and opinions on the matter. (more…)
Scot Marciel, deputy assistance secretary of state said that the crisis in Myanmar and the difficulty of getting humaitarian aid is not a U.S./Burma issue, but the Myanmar regime is sayin ‘no’ to help from the entire world. (1:08)
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel warns Senior General Than Shwe and other Burmese leaders that the blame will rest on their heads unless they start opening their doors to international humanitarian aid organizations. (1:03)
The Committee on Foreign Affairs met today to discuss Myanmar in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary of state, criticized the Myanmar government’s handling of the disaster, saying it was “appalling.” (more…)
During a press briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Department spokesman Goeff Morrell gives an update on U.S. aid to Myanmar. (0:42)
UN Aid to Myanmar by the numbers
* There are 30-40 aid flights a day plus commercial flights being donated by companies such as Thai airlines.
* 700 tons of rice and high energy biscuits are enough to feed 100,000 people
* The UN goal is to have tarps for 200,000 households
*There are about 160 relief workers being allowed in from neighboring countries.
*The UN has applied for about 100-200 visas for professional staff, with the ability to train and work with workers.
*$150 million has been raised but now the amount needed has increased.
*1.6-2.5 million people will need some form of aid over the long term, the numbers on this are constantly being refined.
*Death toll is 38,000. and 27,000 missing. Those are the statistics of Myanmar not of the United Nations. It could be up to 100,000 or even higher but there is no reliable figures. There is the possibility that people have been double counted.
Myanmar/Burma briefing by John Holmes Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator
In his update briefing on the conditions and aid flights to Myanmar, Holmes said that so far the Burmese government is not allowing international workers but they have asked neighboring countries to help. Holmes said that there is still a long way to go. He said that clean water is still very important, but that in the medical supplies dehydration kits has helped to stave off a real crisis.
Holmes said that there is no detectable moving of aid for other purposes which the UN has determined by looking at markets, but Holmes said, that doesn’t mean it is not happening. He reported that the Ports are now open so large quantities of goods should be able to move soon. Myanmar is still not accepting assets such as engineering teams or helicopters said Holmes. He said that Myanmar’s national resources are not adequate. The plan, Holmes said, is to develop a logistics hub, perhaps in Thailand. (more…)
