[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 480 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 480

Condemning the continued detention of Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung 
  San Suu Kyi and calling on the military regime in Burma to permit a 
  credible and fair election process and the transition to civilian, 
                            democratic rule.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 14, 2010

Mr. Gregg (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Brownback, Ms. 
    Collins, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. Leahy) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Condemning the continued detention of Burmese democracy leader Daw Aung 
  San Suu Kyi and calling on the military regime in Burma to permit a 
  credible and fair election process and the transition to civilian, 
                            democratic rule.

Whereas the military regime in Burma, headed by General Than Shwe and the State 
        Peace and Development Council, continues to persecute Burmese democracy 
        leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters in the National League 
        for Democracy, and ordinary citizens of Burma, including ethnic 
        minorities, who publically and courageously speak out against the 
        regime's many injustices;
Whereas Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been imprisoned in Burma for 14 of the last 19 
        years and many members of the National League for Democracy have been 
        similarly jailed, tortured, or killed;
Whereas the Constitution adopted in 2008 and the election laws recently 
        promulgated effectively prohibit the National League for Democracy, 
        Buddhist monks, ethnic minority leaders, and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from 
        participating in upcoming elections, and do not leave much opportunity 
        for domestic dialogue among key stakeholders; and
Whereas the persecution of the people of Burma has continued even though the 
        Department of State has pursued a policy of engagement with the military 
        regime designed to secure the release of political prisoners, foster 
        national reconciliation, and facilitate peaceful transition to civilian, 
        democratic rule: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the continued detention of Burmese democracy 
        leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all prisoners of conscience in 
        Burma, and calls for their immediate and unconditional release;
            (2) calls on the military regime in Burma to engage in 
        dialogue with the National League for Democracy and other 
        opposition groups, as well as with ethnic minorities, to 
        broaden political participation in an environment free from 
        fear and intimidation;
            (3) calls upon the Secretary of State to assess the 
        effectiveness of the policy of engagement with the military 
        regime in Burma in furthering United States interests, and to 
        maintain, and consider strengthening, sanctions against Burma 
        if the military regime continues its systematic violation of 
        human rights and fails to embrace the democratic aspirations of 
        the people of Burma;
            (4) calls upon the Secretary of State to engage regional 
        governments and multilateral organizations (including the 
        People's Republic of China, the Association of Southeast Asian 
        Nations, and the United Nations Security Council) to push for 
        the establishment of an environment in Burma that encourages 
        the full and unfettered participation of the people of Burma in 
        a democratic transition to civilian rule; and
            (5) calls on the Secretary of State to support the National 
        League for Democracy and the people of Burma in calling for 
        significant constitutional and election reforms by the military 
        regime, which will broaden political participation, further 
        democracy, accountability, and responsive governance, and 
        improve human rights in Burma.
                                 <all>