[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 168 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13711-S13712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 52--ENCOURAGING THE ASSOCIATION OF 
SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS TO TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE A PEACEFUL TRANSITION 
                         TO DEMOCRACY IN BURMA

  Mrs. BOXER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 52

       Whereas hundreds of thousands of citizens of Burma have 
     risked their lives in demonstrations to demand a return to 
     democracy and respect for human rights in their country;
       Whereas the repressive military Government of Burma has 
     conducted a brutal crackdown against demonstrators, which has 
     resulted in mass numbers of killings, arrests, and 
     detentions;
       Whereas Burma has been a member of the Association of 
     Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1997;
       Whereas foreign ministers of other ASEAN member nations, in 
     reference to Burma, have ``demanded that the government 
     immediately desist from the use of violence against 
     demonstrators'', expressed ``revulsion'' over reports that 
     demonstrators were being suppressed by violent and deadly 
     force, and called for ``the release of all political 
     detainees including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi'';
       Whereas the foreign ministers of ASEAN member nations have 
     expressed concern that developments in Burma ``had a serious 
     impact on the reputation and credibility of ASEAN'';
       Whereas Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations (UN) Special 
     Envoy to Burma, has called on the member nations of ASEAN to 
     take additional steps on the Burma issue, saying, ``Not just 
     Thailand but all the countries that I am visiting, India, 
     China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the UN, we could do more'';
       Whereas the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action adopted 
     October 7, 2003, at the ASEAN Summit in Bali states that 
     ASEAN members ``shall promote political development . . . to 
     achieve peace, stability, democracy, and prosperity in the 
     region'', and specifically says that ``ASEAN Member Countries 
     shall not condone unconstitutional and undemocratic changes 
     of government'';
       Whereas the Government of Singapore, as the current Chair 
     of ASEAN, will host ASEAN's regional summit in November 2007 
     to approve ASEAN's new charter;
       Whereas the current Foreign Minister of Singapore, George 
     Yeo, has publicly expressed, ``For some time now, we had 
     stopped trying to defend Myanmar internationally because it 
     became no longer credible'';
       Whereas, according to the chairman of the High Level Task 
     Force charged with drafting

[[Page S13712]]

     the new ASEAN Charter, the Charter ``will make ASEAN a more 
     rules-based organization and . . . will put in place a system 
     of compliance monitoring and, most importantly, a system of 
     compulsory dispute settlement for noncompliance that will 
     apply to all ASEAN agreements'';
       Whereas upon its accession to ASEAN, Burma agreed to 
     subscribe or accede to all ASEAN declarations, treaties, and 
     agreements;
       Whereas 2007 marks the 30th anniversary of the relationship 
     and dialogue between the United States and ASEAN;
       Whereas the Senate passed legislation in the 109th Congress 
     that would authorize the establishment of the position of 
     United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, and the President 
     announced in 2006 that an Ambassador would be appointed; and
       Whereas ASEAN member nations and the United States share 
     common concerns across a broad range of issues, including 
     accelerated economic growth, social progress, cultural 
     development, and peace and stability in the Southeast Asia 
     region: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) joins the foreign ministers of member nations of the 
     Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that have 
     expressed concern over the human rights situation in Burma;
       (2) encourages ASEAN to take more substantial steps to 
     ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma;
       (3) welcomes steps by ASEAN to strengthen its internal 
     governance through the adoption of a formal ASEAN charter;
       (4) urges ASEAN to ensure that all member nations live up 
     to their membership obligations and adhere to ASEAN's core 
     principles, including respect for and commitment to human 
     rights; and
       (5) would welcome a decision by ASEAN, consistent with its 
     core documents and its new charter, to review Burma's 
     membership in ASEAN and to consider appropriate disciplinary 
     measures, including suspension, until such time as the 
     Government of Burma has demonstrated an improved respect for 
     and commitment to human rights.

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution to 
encourage the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, to take 
action to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy in Burma.
  In late September, tens of thousands of Burmese citizens, including 
thousands of Buddhist monks, took to the streets to demand a return to 
democracy in Burma. Tragically, the world watched in horror as Burma's 
military junta implemented a brutal and ruthless crackdown resulting in 
the death of hundreds and the detention of thousands.
  The current Burmese government, the State Peace and Development 
Council, SPDC, is a military dictatorship that refused to relinquish 
power even after the Burmese people voted them out in a democratic 
election in 1990. The winner of that election, the National League for 
Democracy was not allowed to take power, and its leader, Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi, was placed under house arrest, where she remains today.
  The world must not stay silent while the people of Burma struggle for 
democracy and basic human rights. We have a moral responsibility to 
speak out for the Burmese people who have been silenced by the junta.
  The events of the last several weeks are reminiscent of the crackdown 
on a similar uprising in the summer of 1988, in which an estimated 
3,000 people were killed. Today, the remaining leaders of that 
uprising, known as ``The 88 Generation Students,'' issued a letter to 
the Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, asking that 
it ``consider suspending the SPDC's membership in ASEAN if it continues 
to ignore the requests of the international community.'' This 
resolution echos that suggestion.
  ASEAN has expressed ``revulsion'' over reports that the SPDC is using 
deadly force to suppress demonstrators. I appreciate this strong 
statement. Unfortunately, it is clear that words alone are not enough 
to force change within Burma. Later this month, ASEAN will hold its 
regional summit--a prime opportunity for ASEAN to back its words with 
concrete action.
  Yesterday, it was reported that the Buddhist monks were again 
marching in the streets of Burma in clear defiance of the military 
junta. It is time for Burma's neighbors to apply real pressure on the 
military government so that future violence can be avoided. I urge my 
colleagues to stand with the people of Burma and support this 
resolution.

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