Lawmakers in the United States are approving resolutions this week to condemn a violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Burma.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are calling for foreign governments to pressure Burma's military government to exercise restraint.
Lawmakers including Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi say Burma's neighbors, such as Thailand and China, need to become more involved diplomatically.
Also Wednesday, VOA's Burmese Service Chief Than Lwin Htun told the Congressional Human Rights Caucus - a bipartisan organization in the House of Representatives that the situation in Burma is, in his words, "anything but normal."
His comments are in response to the Burmese foreign minister's insistence that "normalcy" has been restored in the country. Foreign Minister U Nyan Win made the remark Monday at the United Nations.
U.S. First Lady Laura Bush issued a statement to lawmakers on Wednesday, saying she is deeply concerned about the Burmese people.
She said video footage from Burma confirms reports that abuses are more rampant than Burmese authorities describe.
