Congressman condemns Burmese beatings

Congressman Tom Lantos has condemned actions taken by members of the military regime in Burma in a press release issued today. Lantos specifically referred to an incident on April 18 in which two Burmese human right advocates, Myint Naing and Maung Maung Lay, were brutally attacked by thugs working for the 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 were reportedly targeted for conducting training sessions that included the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The beatings were carried out by the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). The two men are currently in a hospital in Rangoon being treated from head injuries.

The story was also reported by Reuters AlertNet on Tuesday. According to Reuters, a group of roughly 100 men carrying clubs and other weapons attacked Naing and Lay, and one still remains in serious condition after the beating. The USDA was also involved in the attacks on Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi a decade ago. The USDA is billed by the current military government as a “social welfare organization.”

To read the article from Reuters click here.