[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1563-H1567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING MILITARY COUP IN BURMA
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 134) condemning the military coup that took
place on February 1, 2021, in Burma and the Burmese military detention
of civilian leaders, calling for the release of all those detained and
for those elected to serve in Parliament to resume their duties, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 134
Whereas the military of Burma (hereinafter referred to as
the ``Tatmadaw'') held power in Burma between 1962 and 2011;
Whereas provisions in the 2008 Constitution of Burma,
written by the Tatmadaw, allocate 25 percent of parliamentary
seats to the Tatmadaw, conferring powers on the Tatmadaw that
have been used to suppress basic rights, including freedoms
of expression, assembly, and association;
Whereas, in 2010, Burma conducted its first election, which
was neither free nor fair, under the new Constitution, and
which was boycotted by the National League for Democracy
(NLD);
Whereas Burma conducted elections in November 2015, in
which the NLD came to power;
Whereas Burma's November 8, 2020, elections resulted in the
NLD securing enough seats in Parliament to form the next
government, notwithstanding the disenfranchisement of more
than 1,500,000 voters, mostly from ethnic minority
communities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, and Chin
states;
Whereas the Tatmadaw conducted a coup against the civilian
government on February 1, 2021, hours before Parliament was
to convene in a new session;
Whereas the Tatmadaw claimed they had evidence of
parliamentary election fraud perpetrated by the NLD and
Burma's Union Election Commission, an allegation that
contradicted the judgment of several independent election
monitoring organizations that the electoral process and
outcome were credible despite minor irregularities;
Whereas the Tatmadaw has detained unlawfully State
Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi,
[[Page H1564]]
President Win Myint, and other leaders of the NLD, as well as
prodemocracy activists from the 88 Generation and other civil
society leaders;
Whereas the Tatmadaw has charged State Counselor Aung San
Suu Kyi with importing walkie-talkies illegally and President
Win Myint with violating prohibitions on gatherings during
the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas the Tatmadaw has declared a state of emergency
until new elections are held in one year;
Whereas the Tatmadaw has restricted freedom of movement,
telecommunications, and the media, limiting access to
information to and from Burma during a political and public
health crisis;
Whereas, on January 31, 2021, the Secretary-General of the
United Nations spokesperson released the following
condemnation of the coup, which reads, in part, ``The
Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of State
Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and
other political leaders on the eve of the opening session of
Myanmar's new Parliament. He expresses his grave concern
regarding the declaration of the transfer of all legislative,
executive and judicial powers to the military. These
developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms
in Myanmar.'';
Whereas, on February 1, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden,
Jr., condemned the coup in a statement that read, in part,
``The military's seizure of power in Burma, the detention of
Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials, and the
declaration of a national state of emergency are a direct
assault on the country's transition to democracy and the rule
of law.'';
Whereas protests opposing the coup have swept Burma;
Whereas the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 1091 on
December 13, 2018, expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that the atrocities committed against the
Rohingya by the Tatmadaw and security forces beginning in
August 2017 constituted crimes against humanity and genocide;
and
Whereas the United States has sanctioned Tatmadaw officials
previously, including Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing, for
the atrocities committed against the Rohingya, and the
International Court of Justice is investigating the
Tatmadaw's conduct: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the military coup that took place on February
1, 2021;
(2) stands with the people of Burma in their ambition for
sustainable peace, a genuine democracy, and the realization
of human rights for all, including for ethnic minorities
whose human rights have been violated repeatedly and who have
been disenfranchised historically;
(3) condemns any attacks on civilians and supports the use
of all diplomatic and development tools to ensure that
civilians are safe during conflict;
(4) calls on the Tatmadaw to--
(A) release all those currently detained arbitrarily as a
result of the February 1st coup;
(B) restore all forms of communications, including internet
services;
(C) remove all impediments to free travel that have been
imposed as a result of the coup, apart from legitimate travel
restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
(D) return to power all members of the civilian government;
(E) allow for freedom of expression, including the right to
protest, press freedom, and freedom of movement;
(F) allow unfettered reporting from local, national, and
international media; and
(G) refrain from mass evictions; and
(5) calls on the President of the United States and the
Secretary of State to--
(A) encourage both the return to power of all members of
the civilian government and, subsequently, constitutional
reforms to address the power conferred to the Tatmadaw in
Parliament and the disenfranchisement of ethnic minorities in
Burma;
(B) reinstate sanctions and impose new restrictions aimed
at the Tatmadaw and those responsible for the February 1st
coup;
(C) work with the international partners and multilateral
institutions, including the United Nations Security Council,
to condemn the coup and enact multilateral, targeted
sanctions on the military, military-owned businesses,
including the Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar
Economic Holdings Limited, and others connected to the coup,
including an international arms embargo;
(D) coordinate with international partners and allies,
especially those with economic investments in Burma, with
respect to planned economic consequences for the coup and
ensuring those consequences are tailored to avoid impacting
Burmese civilians;
(E) ensure that targeted sanctions allow all necessary
exemptions to permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance
to civilians in need;
(F) ensure that United States-based social media companies,
including Facebook, not allow their platforms to be used as
vehicles for disinformation campaigns or advocating violence
against the Burmese people;
(G) implement restrictions on diplomatic, economic, and
security relations with Burma until a full restoration of
civilian-controlled Parliament, and release of those detained
in connection with the coup; and
(H) direct the United States Permanent Representative to
the United Nations to use the voice, vote, and influence of
the United States to bring about greater international
cooperation to pursue justice and accountability in Burma.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 134.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Representative Levin for sponsoring
this resolution, which condemns the military coup that occurred in
Burma on February 1, 2021.
It has been more than 45 days since the Burmese military, also known
as the Tatmadaw, arrested several democratically-elected members of
government, including the President Win Myint, and the State Counselor,
Aung San Suu Kyi, and declared a year-long state of emergency, and
nullified the results of Burma's November 8, 2020, elections.
Despite Tatmadaw claims of election fraud, several independent
election monitoring organizations found that the electoral process and
outcome were credible, even despite minor irregularities.
Since the coup took place, we have seen thousands of protesters take
to the streets to make sure that their voices were heard; voices in
opposition to the coup and in support of democracy. And as those
protests continued, we have seen security forces increasingly use
violence in an attempt to quell the demonstrations.
The U.N. estimates that 149 people have been killed since the coup
occurred on February 1. Fifty-seven people were killed this past
weekend alone.
It is imperative that democracies around the world speak out in
condemnation of this coup and the arrest of democratically-elected
government officials. It is vital that we speak in support of
democracy, of all of those members of civil society who have been
arrested, and those in Burma who are protesting for the restoration of
democracy. And it is important that we make it clear to the Tatmadaw,
including through additional targeted sanctions that leverage sources
of income for the military, that these actions are absolutely
unacceptable.
We are sadly, in this body, all too familiar with the rippling
effects of attempts to undo democratic elections. We have an obligation
to speak up and speak out wherever democracy is threatened.
Madam Speaker, this is a very important resolution. I support it and
urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, the House has always come together to condemn human
rights violations around the world, whether it is in Rwanda or
Xinjiang; or as we discuss here today, in Burma.
Only 3 years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed Mr. Chabot's
resolution to label the Burmese military's crimes against the Rohingya
Muslim population as genocide.
Unfortunately, we are once again facing shocking violence in Burma as
a pro-democracy movement pushes back against the recent military coup.
Hundreds are reported dead, with many more injured. And more than 2,000
people have been arrested, simply for peacefully asking for freedom.
America cannot stand idly and silently by while atrocities like this
happen.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
resolution. With over 60 Republican and Democrat cosponsors, this
resolution, and this issue, is truly bipartisan. I want to thank Mr.
Levin for introducing this resolution.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), a
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valued member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and author of
this important resolution.
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Meeks and
Ranking Member McCaul for their support in bringing this resolution to
the floor today.
Last month, the Burmese military, Tatmadaw, staged a coup and quashed
Burma's fragile experiment with democracy.
Burma had struggled during that time to enfranchise its minority
population, and to respect their human rights. The genocide of the
Rohingya is perhaps the best known example, but it is far from the only
one.
In fact, when Burma's November 8, 2020, elections resulted in the
National League for Democracy winning an overwhelming victory and
securing enough seats in Parliament to form the next government, it was
notwithstanding the disenfranchisement of more than 1,500,000 voters,
mostly from ethnic minority communities in Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine,
Shan, and Chin states.
The resolution before us today condemns the February 1st coup
unequivocally and calls on the Tatmadaw to free all those they have
detained arbitrarily and return members of the civilian government to
power.
We are considering this resolution at a critical time. More than
2,100 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced in relation to
the coup. The military and police have been ordered to fire on
protesters. More than 200 people have been killed in cold blood in
these violent crackdowns.
On top of mobile data blackouts, there is now concern that the
Tatmadaw could cut off WiFi as well, and even reports of fiber lines
being cut, which would cut off access to the internet altogether.
Clearly, there is no time to waste. The junta's rule must end. But it
will not be enough simply to return to the status quo ante. This
resolution calls on President Biden and Secretary Blinken to encourage
not just the return to power of the civilian government, but also,
subsequently, constitutional reforms to address the undemocratic power
reserved for the Tatmadaw in Parliament, and the disenfranchisement of
Burma's ethnic minorities.
Democracy is something we must ever defend and nurture. That is why
we who believe that all people are created equal and must be treated as
such, whether here in America or anywhere else around the globe, must
speak up, not only for full civilian control in Burma, but also for
democracy, not for some, but for all.
And so this resolution makes clear that Congress stands with all of
the people of Burma in their ambition for sustainable peace, a genuine
democracy, and the realization of human rights for all.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Chabot for authoring this
resolution with me, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Bera, Chairman
Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, and all of my colleagues who have
cosponsored this important resolution, which I am proud to say, on a
completely bipartisan basis, we passed through the House Foreign
Affairs Committee unanimously.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for
yielding, and I thank the chairman for his leadership.
I would especially like to thank Mr. Levin for his resolution
condemning the military coup in Burma, and calling for release of all
those who have been detained, as well as restoring those elected to
serve in Parliament to a position that allows them to fulfill their
important duties.
I would also like to thank Mr. Connolly for his Protect Democracy in
Burma Act, H.R. 1112, and the important report that it will authorize.
Mr. Speaker, 24 years ago, in 1997, I chaired my first hearing on
Burmese human rights abuse, and chaired additional hearings after that,
including in 1998 and 2006. I also introduced several resolutions
addressing the ongoing egregious crisis, including H. Res. 1710, which
decried the house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, and called on the Burmese
military regime to end its campaign of religious and ethnic persecution
of the Rohingya people, amounting to crimes against humanity.
{time} 1615
Thus, after decades of abuse, rape, torture, and murder, it is
incredibly tragic as to how little has changed in that country.
As H. Res. 134 points out, the Burmese Government's unlawful
detention of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as the crackdown
on democracy advocates and the squelching of free expression and other
fundamental civil and political rights, is outrageous and begs
immediate reform and correction.
The United States must, and I believe will, in a bipartisan way, and
with the executive branch taking the lead, do its part. Every sanction
of leverage must be deployed, and we must call on all of our
international partners to join us in those efforts.
The most glaring example of basic religious persecution, Mr. Speaker,
is the oppression of Burma's Muslim Rohingya population. This
persecution has been aided and abetted in part by religious and
nationalist extremists such as the Buddhist monk Wirathu and the 969
movement.
We also see religious persecution intertwined with ethnic
persecution, as in the case of the Karen, Kachin, and Shan people, many
of whom are Christians. I have met many of them over the years.
Many of you have seen the riveting image of a Catholic nun, Sister
Ann Rose Nu Tawang, kneeling before a group of militarized police,
pleading that they do not shoot the protesters. Sadly, at least two
protesters lost their lives that day. But what gives us at least a
glimmer of hope is that opposite Sister Ann Rose, two of the officers,
who are presumably Buddhists, also got down on their knees in response
that this ought to be peaceful and not violent.
It is an image which gives one some hope that the people of Burma can
overcome their differences and unite for peace and justice and for the
benefit of all Burmese, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political
affiliation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished chairman and the ranking member
for their leadership on this.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Chabot).
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I
thank the ranking member for his leadership on this issue and so many
issues that are so significant across the globe. Fortunately, our
committee usually works in a bipartisan manner, so I want to thank my
colleagues on the other side of the aisle, especially the chairman, for
his leadership on this as well.
As the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Asia, the
Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, I rise today
in support of H.R. 134, legislation that Congressman Levin and I
introduced condemning the Burmese military's February 1 coup against
the civilian government. The military's decision to seize control and
detain top political leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President
Win Myint, was a brazen assault on Burma's fledgling democracy.
Self-government is not some sort of temporary arrangement or a gift
from the military. Burma's generals cannot simply back out of democracy
when it no longer serves their purposes.
The situation has only gotten worse since the coup began. To date,
the military has killed hundreds of people and has detained thousands
of innocent people as political prisoners, and the conditions in many
instances are horrible.
What the military is doing here is just unconscionable. These murders
and detentions are blatant violations of the rights of the Burmese
people who, after all, only want to have what so many other countries
have across the globe, and that is the ability to determine their own
leadership and their own course of action for their own families and
their children and grandchildren.
We should honor--the whole world really should honor--the courage of
the Burmese people who have been peacefully protesting for quite some
time
[[Page H1566]]
now. Their bravery and determination are recognized and supported
across the globe. America and the world stand with them in their
struggle against tyranny.
Unfortunately, the PRC in this case and in so many other cases across
the globe, whether it is Cambodia or other areas where they tend, their
actions are malevolent. They are undermining democracy; they are
undermining freedom; and they are undermining legitimate governments.
They are rewarding bad behavior, as they are doing in this case, and
that is too bad because the PRC wants to be a major force and wants to
be a country that other countries can look up to.
Unfortunately, they are doing all the wrong things too often, and
that is what they are doing here as well. Rather than putting pressure
on the military in Burma, they are essentially looking the other way or
supporting them in what they are doing.
The bravery and determination of the people must be recognized across
the globe.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a report from the
Associated Press detailing the detention of AP reporter Thein Zaw by
Burmese authorities.
[From the AP, Mar. 12, 2021]
Myanmar Court Extends Detention of AP Journalist
Yangon, Myanmar (AP).--A court in Myanmar extended on
Friday the pretrial detention of an Associated Press
journalist who was arrested while covering demonstrations
against a coup. He is facing a charge that could send him to
prison for three years.
Thein Zaw, 32, was one of nine media workers taken into
custody during a protest on Feb. 27 in Yangon, the country's
largest city, and has been held without bail. His next
hearing at the Kamayut Township court will be on March 24.
Friday's hearing, which Thein Zaw attended via
videoconference, came at the end of his initial remand
period.
Thein Zaw and at least six other members of the media have
been charged with violating a public order law, according to
his lawyer, Tin Zar Oo, and the independent Assistance
Association for Political Prisoners. Separate hearings were
held Friday for the other detained journalists.
Tin Zar Oo and one of Thein Zaw's brothers were allowed
into the courtroom to take part in the 10-minute
videoconference. Tin Zar Oo said she was able to submit
documents giving her power of attorney for the case, but only
at the next hearing might be allowed to submit a bail
application.
A representative of the U.S. Embassy was also present, said
Aryani Manring, a spokeswoman for the mission.
Thein Zaw had not been seen by his lawyer or any of his
family members since his arrest. Tin Zar Oo said visits at
lnsein Prison, where her client is being held, are not
allowed because of coronavirus concerns, so his family has
been dropping off food and supplies for him at the gate.
Tin Zar Oo said that her client looked healthy during
Friday's hearing, but he suffers from asthma at night. She
said Thein Zaw's brother noted that he had lost weight.
Thein Zaw was arrested as he was photographing police, some
of them armed, charging down a street at anti-coup
protesters. A video shows that although he stepped to the
side of the street to get out of their way, several police
rushed over and surrounded him. One put him in a chokehold as
he was handcuffed and then taken away.
According to the Assistance Association for Political
Prisoners, 38 journalists have been detained since the
military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on
Feb. 1. Nineteen are still incarcerated.
The group says it has verified the detentions of more than
2,000 people as well as 69 deaths.
On Friday, local media in Shan State in eastern Myanmar
reported that a freelance journalist from Poland had been
beaten and arrested by security forces.
The online Kanbawza Tai News said a foreign photojournalist
was arrested Thursday while taking pictures of a protest in
the city of Taunggyi. A photo provided to the news site shows
a man trapped against a wall with one arm raised as he is
surrounded by about 10 soldiers.
Germany's dpa news agency said the man, Robert Bociaga, 30,
has been working for the news service, and it has not been
able to contact him.
``We are deeply shocked by the arrest and apparent
mistreatment of Robert Bociaga,'' said the agency's editor-
in-chief, Sven Goesmann. ``This is an intolerable and
unacceptable attack on the freedom of the press and, even in
this brutal form, is unfortunately not an isolated case.''
The Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed the arrest of a
Polish journalist and said it was trying to contact the
detained man and obtain information about his health and
legal situation.
Earlier this week, Myanmar authorities canceled the
licenses of five local outlets that had extensively covered
the protests. Mizzima, Democratic Voice of Burma, Khit Thit
Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News have continued operating
despite being barred from broadcasting or publishing on any
media platform.
The Associated Press and many press freedom organizations
have called for the release of Thein Zaw and the other
detained journalists.
The U.S. government, in addition to criticizing the coup
and the violence of Myanmar's security forces, has condemned
the crackdown on the press in the Southeast Asian nation.
``We are deeply concerned about the increasing attacks on
the freedom of expression, including for members of the
press. We call for the release of journalists and for all
others who have been unjustly detained,'' U.S. State
Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters in
Washington on Thursday.
Even during Suu Kyi's time in office, journalists were
often sued for their reporting.
In the highest-profile case, two journalists working for
the Reuters news agency were arrested in 2017 while working
on a story about military violence directed at Myanmar's
Rohingya minority. They were accused of illegally possessing
official documents and sentenced to seven years behind bars
before being freed in 2019 in a mass presidential pardon.
Mr. BURCHETT. Mr. Zaw has been jailed for covering the violence
leveled against anti-coup demonstrators in Burma.
Thanks to Mr. Zaw and other journalists on the ground, we know what
is going on in Burma is pure evil. The autocratic strongmen leading
this coup are using deadly force to crack down on all dissenting
speech. Burmese authorities, under the direction of these military
thugs, are actively murdering demonstrators, arresting thousands, and
imprisoning international reporters covering the situation.
Senseless violence, military rule, and imprisoning political
opponents all fly directly in the face of the democratic values we
cherish as Americans.
Today, this Chamber has the opportunity to condemn the hostile
takeover of the Burmese Government, defend the demonstrators looking
for peace, and stand up for democracy in Burma.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support both H.
Res. 134 and H.R. 1112.
Mr. MEEKS. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, the Burmese military is using brutal violence to drag
Burma back into repression and isolation. We should condemn this coup
with one united voice as the United States of America through its
Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the Burmese military respect the
will of the Burmese people and, one, return power to those
democratically elected; and, two, release civilian leaders taken into
custody.
Daily protests against the military coup continue to occur in towns
and cities throughout Burma, and the security forces are using
increasing brutality to crack down against those demonstrating.
We must make it clear that the United States is watching and that we
support the restoration of democracy.
Again, I want to thank Mr. Levin, the ranking member, and my
colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together so that the
Burmese people know that the Congress of the United States of America
stands together in their fight for democracy.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ruiz). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 134.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
[[Page H1567]]
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