US Congressman Van Hollen Statement on Nyi Nyi Aung

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on Nyi Nyi Aung, a Burmese American citizen and Eighth District constituent, who was sentenced yesterday by the government of Burma to three years of hard labor:

“This sentence is the latest in a string of unjust and abusive actions by Burma’s military led government against Mr. Aung, and is clearly a politically motivated effort to end his democracy-building work in that country. He has been subjected to unspeakable treatment that violated both international and Burmese law. He has suffered physical and mental torture, been kept from seeing his family, and had his contact with U.S. consular officials severely limited.

“I am deeply disappointed with the Burmese junta’s decision to sentence Mr. Aung to three years of hard labor. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress, the U.S. State Department, and the Aung family to secure his immediate release from prison and return to the United States.”

This post is in: International Relations, Political Prisoners, Press Release