[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 359 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 359

 Commending the Government of Bangladesh for its compassion during the 
   Rohingya humanitarian crisis and commending Pope Francis for his 
                           message of peace.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 13, 2017

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Markey, and 
Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending the Government of Bangladesh for its compassion during the 
   Rohingya humanitarian crisis and commending Pope Francis for his 
                           message of peace.

Whereas Bangladesh has taken in Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Burma 
        since the 1970s;
Whereas at least 300,000 Rohingya refugees were still in Bangladesh prior to 
        August 25, 2017;
Whereas an August 25, 2017, attack on security posts in Burma by the military 
        group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army resulted in a brutal and methodical 
        reprisal by the Burmese military on Rohingya villages;
Whereas more than 624,000 Rohingya refugees have fled to Bangladesh since August 
        25, 2017, alone, most located in or near the coastal city of Cox's 
        Bazar;
Whereas the Rohingya refugee crisis is the fast-growing refugee crisis in the 
        world;
Whereas the Government of Bangladesh has accepted nearly 1,000,000 Rohingya 
        refugees in total despite facing their own domestic challenges;
Whereas the Government of Bangladesh has notably allowed full access for 
        international relief organizations;
Whereas, on September 22, 2017, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged 
        before the United Nations General Assembly an end to the violence 
        against the Rohingya and full implementation in Burma of the 
        recommendations made by Kofi Annan's Advisory Commission on the Rakhine 
        State;
Whereas, on November 23, 2017, the Government of Bangladesh and the Government 
        of Burma signed a Memorandum of Understating on a repatriation 
        agreement;
Whereas the Memorandum of Understanding on a repatriation agreement is modeled 
        after a flawed 1992-1993 repatriation pact between Bangladesh and Burma, 
        and does not resolve critical questions on the potential repatriation 
        process for Rohingya refugees, including verification of residency, 
        where refugees would be permitted to return, and whether they would 
        enjoy equal access and rights;
Whereas, on November 25, 2017, the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abdul Hassan 
        Mahmood Ali said that Bangladesh would support the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Refugees being involved in any process to repatriate 
        Rohingya refugees to Burma;
Whereas Pope Francis, who has been recognized for his humility, dedication to 
        the poor, and commitment to dialogue and reconciliation, has previously 
        denounced the ``persecution of our Rohingya brothers'' who were being 
        ``tortured and killed, simply because they uphold their Muslim faith'';
Whereas Pope Francis traveled to Burma on November 27, 2017, and urged ``a peace 
        based on respect for the dignity and rights of each member of society, 
        respect for each ethnic group and its identity'';
Whereas Pope Francis, in a visit to Bangladesh on November 30, 2017, recognized 
        the generosity of Bangladeshis in caring for Rohingya refugees and 
        called on the international community to ``take decisive measures to 
        address this grave crisis, not only by working to resolve the political 
        issues that have led to the mass displacement of people, but also by 
        offering immediate material assistance to Bangladesh in its effort to 
        respond effectively to urgent human needs''; and
Whereas the United Nations has estimated a need of $434,000,000 to respond to 
        the Rohingya refugee crisis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the Government of Bangladesh for its admirable 
        compassion and tolerance in accepting Rohingya refugees;
            (2) commends the United Nations agencies, nongovernmental 
        organization (NGO) partners, and all aid workers providing 
        relief to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and urges the 
        Government of Bangladesh to continue to help coordinate 
        critical humanitarian work and ensure ease of access for those 
        carrying out such efforts;
            (3) urges the Government of Bangladesh and the Government 
        of Burma to consult and coordinate with the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for 
        Migration, and NGO partners on any and all safe and voluntary 
        repatriation efforts;
            (4) urges the Government of Bangladesh and the Government 
        of Burma to address the flaws of the November 23, 2017, 
        Memorandum of Understanding on repatriation through 
        consultation and agreement with the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Refugees;
            (5) urges all parties involved in the repatriation process 
        to reject any actions which could continue or worsen the harsh 
        conditions faced by Rohingya refugees, including the 
        confinement of the Rohingya in camps, contained ghettos, or 
        villages were movement is restricted in Burma, or on the flood-
        prone Bhashan Char island in the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh, 
        or any other location that would result in further isolation; 
        and
            (6) commends Pope Francis for his thoughtful remarks about 
        the future of Burma that respects rule of law, the democratic 
        order, and the dignity and rights of all of its people.
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