[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 183 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8729-S8730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF BURMA ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO PEACEFUL 
                               ELECTIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 321, S. Res. 320.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 320) congratulating the people of 
     Burma on their commitment to peaceful elections.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign 
Relations, with an amendment to strike out all after the resolving 
clause and insert the part printed in italic.

                              S. Res. 320

       Whereas Burma conducted general elections on November 8, 
     2015, the country's first national vote since a civilian 
     government was introduced in 2011 that ended nearly 50 years 
     of military rule;
       Whereas the people of Burma have, by their vigorous 
     participation in electoral campaigning and public debate, 
     strengthened the foundations of a free and democratic way of 
     life;
       Whereas preliminary reports indicate that voter turnout 
     exceeded 80 percent;
       Whereas international observers have reported that election 
     day was largely free and fair and conducted in an orderly and 
     peaceful fashion despite broader structural concerns such as 
     the disenfranchisement of the Rohingya;
       Whereas the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity and 
     Development Party suffered a dramatic loss at the polls, and 
     the National League for Democracy won a sizable majority in 
     both chambers of Burma's Union Parliament, the Pyidaungsu 
     Hluttaw, and will select Burma's next President;
       Whereas Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has 
     symbolized the struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma 
     and has actively supported democratic reform through her 
     leadership of the National League for Democracy;
       Whereas the National League for Democracy espouses a policy 
     of nonviolent movement towards multi-party democracy in 
     Burma, supports national reconciliation, and endorses 
     strengthening democratic institutions, protecting human 
     rights, implementing free market economic reforms, and 
     reinforcing rule of law;
       Whereas President Thein Sein and Commander-in-Chief Min Aug 
     Hlaing made public commitments to respect the election 
     results and vowed to abide by the law to ensure an orderly 
     and prompt transition to a new government; and
       Whereas the continued democratic development of Burma is a 
     matter of fundamental importance to the advancement of United 
     States interests in Southeast Asia and is supported by the 
     United States Senate: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people of Burma for embracing 
     democracy through their participation in the November 8, 
     2015, general elections, and for their continuing efforts in 
     developing a free, democratic society that respects 
     internationally recognized human rights;
       (2) recognizes the National League for Democracy's victory 
     as a reflection of the will of the Burmese people;
       (3) calls on the Union Solidarity and Development Party to 
     undertake a peaceful transfer of power and abide by the law 
     to ensure an orderly and prompt transition to a new 
     government;
       (4) encourages all parties to pursue national 
     reconciliation talks and work together in the

[[Page S8730]]

     spirit of national unity to seek what is best for the 
     country;
       (5) recognizes that while the Government of Burma has made 
     important progress towards democratization, there remain 
     serious challenges and impediments to the realization of full 
     democratic and civilian government, including the reservation 
     of unelected seats for the military and the 
     disenfranchisement of groups of people including the 
     Rohingya;
       (6) expresses hope that newly elected members of parliament 
     will contribute to the ongoing political transformation and 
     will herald a new generation of responsible democratic 
     leadership in Burma;
       (7) calls on the Government of Burma to support meaningful 
     efforts to reform the 2008 Constitution of Burma, with the 
     full and unfettered participation of all the people of Burma 
     and in a manner that promotes and protects democratic 
     development of Burma and safeguards against arbitrary 
     interference by the military;
       (8) calls on the Government of Burma to release all 
     political prisoners;
       (9) supports negotiations between the Government of Burma 
     and ethnic groups and organizations toward a genuine national 
     ceasefire;
       (10) encourages the President of the United States, in 
     close and timely consultation with Congress, to continue to 
     support efforts to promote genuine democratic transition and 
     to ensure that any changes in United States policy toward 
     Burma, including the consideration of any potential 
     relaxation of restrictions, are aligned with support for a 
     genuine and sustainable democratic transition; and
       (11) reaffirms that the people of the United States will 
     continue to stand with the people of Burma in support of 
     democracy, partnership, and peace.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported amendment be agreed to; that the resolution, as 
amended, be agreed to; that the preamble be agreed to; and that the 
motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 320), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.

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