[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 636 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 636
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Burma's
2015 elections.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 3, 2016
Mr. Crowley (for himself and Mr. Chabot) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Burma's
2015 elections.
Whereas Burma carried out general elections on November 8, 2015;
Whereas of the 75 percent of the seats in the national parliament contested in
the elections, the National League for Democracy won 77 percent of those
seats, including majorities in both houses of parliament, allowing it to
form a governing majority with the right to nominate the President and
nonmilitary Vice President;
Whereas the pre-election environment included significant structural problems
put in place by the incumbent authorities via the 2008 military-backed
constitution, including article 59(f), which may block opposition leader
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming President; requirements that 25
percent of the seats in the national and regional parliaments must be
filled by soldiers appointed by the military leadership, and article
436, which gives the military's parliamentary minority the ability to
veto key constitutional amendments;
Whereas despite this environment, domestic and international observers indicated
that with respect to the seats being contested, the day of the election
was largely carried out in an organized, peaceful, and historic fashion;
Whereas the Carter Center indicated in its post-elections statement that the
Burmese peoples', `` . . . empowerment and commitment to the democratic
process was not only remarkable but crucial to counterbalancing the
considerable structural impediments to fully democratic elections. [. .
.] However, [Burma's] transition from authoritarian rule to democracy is
incomplete. Additional democratic advances are required to be fully
consistent with broadly recognized international standards for
democratic elections and governance. The constitutional framework for
elections is heavily flawed, limiting the fundamental democratic nature
of the elected bodies and undermining public confidence in work of the
election administration.'';
Whereas the United States Department of State described the elections as an,
``important step forward'', yet, ``far from perfect'', and indicated
that there ``, . . . remain important structural and systemic
impediments to the realization of full democratic and civilian
government, including the reservation of a large number of unelected
seats for the military; the disfranchisement of groups of people who
voted in previous elections, including the Rohingya; and the
disqualification of candidates based on arbitrary application of
citizenship and residency requirements.'';
Whereas the incumbent government continued to arrest, detain, and charge
individuals who had engaged in peaceful political activities in the pre-
election period, and is continuing the prosecution of these cases in the
post-election period;
Whereas Burma's military has continued attacks in ethnic nationality areas,
particularly in Shan and Kachin states, causing civilian displacement
and casualties during the pre-and post-election periods, despite limited
cease-fire and national reconciliation talks initiated by the current
government;
Whereas the scale of the National League for Democracy's victory gives it the
right to select a new president and form a new government, but the 2008
constitution may prohibit the NLD from selecting its leader, Daw Aung
San Suu Kyi, as a candidate for President and still gives the military
the power to appoint the ministers of defense, border affairs, and
interior affairs, key ministries where reforms are needed to secure
Burma's democratic future;
Whereas Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has for decades stood as the leader of Burma's
peaceful, nonviolent opposition movement despite years of house arrest,
and has consistently called for peaceful national reconciliation in
Burma;
Whereas the United States Congress awarded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the
Congressional Gold Medal in 2008 and presented the award in a ceremony
in the Capitol Rotunda in September 2012;
Whereas the President of Burma and the Commander in Chief of the Burmese
military have publicly stated they will support a timely and smooth
transition to a new NLD-led government; and
Whereas Burma's new government faces numerous political, social and economic
challenges, many of which will require cooperation with institutions of
governance that remain constitutionally under the control of the Burmese
military: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the Burmese peoples' profound desire for
change as reflected in the vote on November 8, 2015;
(2) congratulates those who chose to operate in the spirit
of democracy, whether they won or lost individual seats;
(3) acknowledges the important roles played by the
international community, Election Day workers, party observers,
and domestic election observers in preventing fraud;
(4) acknowledges that while Burma has taken steps toward
democratic rule, many important issues remain unresolved
including constitutional, legal, economic, and security
challenges that cause serious harm and violations of the basic
rights of the people of Burma;
(5) expresses its deep concern about ongoing attacks in the
Kachin and Shan states;
(6) expresses its deep concern about the plight of the
Rohingya people, and urges the current and future governments
of Burma to end discriminatory practices and instead work
toward restoration of and respect for the rights of the
Rohingya and all the people of Burma;
(7) urges the government and all other stakeholders to
support constitutional reform that would allow Burma to assume
its place amongst the democratic nations of the world;
(8) calls on the President of the United States and
Secretary of State to focus on--
(A) securing solutions to urgent human rights and
humanitarian problems, including fulfillment of the 11
human rights and security commitments made by the
current President of Burma to President Obama;
(B) supporting changes to issues described by the
Department of State as ``structural and systemic
impediments to the realization of full democratic and
civilian government'' including constitutional changes;
(C) bringing about the immediate and unconditional
release of all political prisoners, including those
awaiting trial or sentencing; and
(D) supporting an end to offensives against ethnic
nationalities and the creation of a peaceful federal
union acceptable to the people of Burma; and
(9) urges the incumbent government to support a timely,
peaceful, and effective transfer of power to the new
government.
<all>