FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 28, 2007

Contact:
Judith Ingram, Communications Director,
(202) 523-3240

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom will hold a public hearing to examine how religious freedom abuses perpetuated by the Burmese military contribute to violent repression of peaceful dissent, ongoing abuses against ethnic minorities, and regional instability. The hearing also will assess recent U.N. diplomatic efforts as well as U.S. policy options for bringing about democratic change in Burma.

The witnesses are:

• Paul Rush, F24 News, an eyewitness to the demonstrations and subsequent crackdown
• Ashin Nayaka, Columbia University, an exiled Burmese monk and Buddhist scholar
• Aung Din, US Campaign on Burma
• Chris Lewa, Arakan Project
• Salai Bawi Lian, Chin Human Rights Organization
• Michael Green, Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Jared Genser, Freedom Now

RSVP to  [email protected]

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

Michael Cromartie,Chair•Preeta D. Bansal,Vice Chair•Richard D. Land, Vice Chair•Don Argue•Imam Talal Y. Eid•Felice D. Gaer•Leonard A. Leo•Elizabeth H. Prodromou•Nina Shea•Ambassador John V. Hanford III,Ex-Officio