[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 103 (Monday, June 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4505-S4506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 BURMA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the military junta that seized power 
from Burma's democratically elected leaders back in February has kept 
up its campaign of brutal and violent repression. More than 800 people 
are now dead, and more than 5,000 others have been detained on various 
charges of resistance.
  Just today, the longtime leader of Burma's democracy, my good friend 
Aung San Suu Kyi, stood for the beginning of a show trial. Other 
members of the National League for Democracy are awaiting their own 
appearances before the sham court, and many more protesters, 
journalists, and activists are filling Burma's prisons right up to the 
rim.
  Several foreigners have been among those detained, including 
Australian economist Sean Turnell and two American journalists, Nathan 
Maung and Danny Fenster. The State Department has reported that both 
U.S. citizens were denied consular access. Mr. Maung reportedly even 
endured torture during his detention.
  The people of Burma are well acquainted with the brutality of the 
Tatmadaw's military rule, but the wider international community is 
receiving a sobering reminder of the challenges facing the country's 
pro-democracy movement and of the junta's willingness to flout even the 
most basic international norms and treaty obligations.
  I appreciate the continued attention the Biden administration is 
giving to the crisis. Over the weekend, I was particularly encouraged 
by the G-7 leaders' joint condemnation of the junta and by the 
reiteration of a shared commitment to shutting off the flow of any 
assistance funds that might help the military further their repression.
  Of course, for friends of democracy, including the United States, 
there is more to be done to translate words into action. It is time to 
expand the sanctions aimed at the military to include the infamous 
cronies who continue to make common cause with the Tatmadaw.
  It is time for Burma's neighbors and key trading partners to join 
these sanctions efforts and commit to providing increased humanitarian 
access and assistance, particularly, I would say, from Thailand.
  It is time for greater international scrutiny of the markets for jade 
and rare earth metals that give the military and other bad actors 
targets for exploitation.
  It is time for international bodies like the U.N. Security Council to 
put Burma on the agenda and force the Tatmadaw's supporters to defend 
the brutal regime out in the light of day.
  So our work isn't over, but there is reason for optimism. Burma's 
ethnic minorities, diverse and often divided, have united behind the 
representative National Unity Government in peaceful opposition to the 
military rule, and the NUG continues to broaden and deepen this 
coalition.
  Earlier this month, the National Unity Government announced its 
policy on the status of the Rohingya Muslims in the western state of 
Rakhine, pledging accountability for those responsible for years--
years--of violent persecution and committing to greater inclusion for 
all of Burma's ethnic minorities.
  So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the National Unity 
Government's important statement on this matter be printed in the 
Record at this point
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

  Republic of the Union of Myanmar National Unity Government--Policy 
               Position on the Rohingya in Rakhine State


                              3 JUNE 2021

       In honour of human rights and human dignity and also to 
     eradicate the conflicts and root causes in the Union, the 
     National Unity Government aims to build a prosperous and 
     federal democratic union where all ethnic groups belonging to 
     the Union can live together peacefully. This objective is 
     clearly stated in the Federal Democratic Charter.
       Sovereignty belongs to the member states and the people of 
     the member states as proclaimed in the guiding principles for 
     the establishment of a federal democratic union.
       Everyone in the Union has full enjoyment of fundamental 
     human rights. All ethnic groups who are native to the Union 
     have full enjoyment of individual rights held by individual 
     people and collective rights held by ethnic groups. All 
     citizens who swear allegiance to the Union regardless of 
     their ethnic origins are considered to have full enjoyment of 
     citizens' rights. The National Unity Government will not 
     tolerate any form of discrimination.
       The National Unity Government regards the above-mentioned 
     policies as a basis in addressing the matters related to the 
     Rohingyas in Rakhine State. We are confident that extensive 
     deliberations, which consider the positions of all 
     stakeholders in Rakhine State, their historical backgrounds, 
     and national and international laws, will enable all to find 
     shared solutions in a way that respects the human rights of 
     all persons.
       At present, the elimination of the military dictatorship 
     has become the common goal of the entire people because of 
     the violence committed by the illegitimate military council. 
     It is also the period of national resistance against the 
     military dictatorship. The solidarity of the entire people is 
     now at its best. We are confident that we can rebuild a Union 
     that meets the needs of all those in the country who have a 
     stake in its future.
       After consultations with the many different stakeholders in 
     Rakhine States, including Rohingya groups and refugee 
     representatives from the IDP camps, the NUG here makes clear 
     how it will seek to apply these principles for the good of 
     all in the Rakhine State.
       The National Unity Government well understands the violence 
     and gross human rights violations inflicted upon Rohingyas by 
     the thuggish military and the massive displacement, with 
     hundreds of thousands fleeing their homes during the 
     conflicts in Rakhine State over the last decades: We are 
     deeply saddened by this. The entire people of Burma is 
     sympathetic to the plight of the Rohingya as all now 
     experience atrocities and violence perpetrated by the 
     military.
       Endeavouring to bring the perpetrators to account is not 
     only for the realization of justice but also acts as a 
     deterrent against future atrocities. Therefore, we regard 
     this as a priority task. Reparation and Justice will

[[Page S4506]]

     be ensured in the future Federal Democratic Union 
     Constitution.
       We will actively seek justice and accountability for all 
     crimes committed by the military against the Rohingyas and 
     all other people of Myanmar throughout our history. We intend 
     if necessary to initiate processes to grant International 
     Criminal Court jurisdiction over crimes committed within 
     Myanmar against the Rohingyas and other communities.
       We consider that the 88 recommendations set out in the 
     final report of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State 
     chaired by Dr. Kofi Annan must play a crucial role in 
     addressing the affairs in Rakhine State. These 
     recommendations are based on solutions for the root causes of 
     violence. However, over the past four years, much has changed 
     to make the situation worse in Rakhine State for all ethnic 
     groups there. Using these recommendations as well as other 
     relevant recommendations as inputs, we earnestly believe that 
     we can work together with all the people in Rakhine State to 
     chart a new course towards a democratic inclusive and 
     prosperous future.
       We would also like to highlight the importance of legal 
     matters in seeing to the Rakhine question. We will consider 
     the opinions and views of the entire people in the country, 
     including those in Rakhine State, in drafting a new 
     constitution that can resolve the many problems caused by the 
     2008 constitution. The views and insights of all can 
     contribute to this process. All the people in the country, 
     including all stakeholders in Rakhine State, are invited to 
     participate in the process of drafting the new constitution. 
     Such dialogue is essential to creating a shared future for 
     the country.
       The process of repealing, amending, and promulgating laws, 
     including the 1982 Citizenship Law, by the new constitution 
     when the drafting is completed will be beneficial in 
     resolving the conflict in Rakhine State. This new Citizenship 
     Act must base citizenship on birth in Myanmar or birth 
     anywhere as a child of Myanmar Citizens.
       We further commit to abolishing the process of issuing 
     National Verification Cards, a process that the military has 
     used against Rohingyas and other ethnic groups coercively and 
     with human rights violations. The Rohingyas are entitled to 
     citizenship by laws that will accord with fundamental human 
     rights norms and democratic federal principles.
       The voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation of 
     Rohingyas who fled to neighbouring countries from Rakhine 
     State due to Tatmadaw violence is a crucial matter. We 
     reaffirm the agreements signed with neighbouring countries 
     for the repatriation process. We are ready to cooperate with 
     all stakeholders of good will in a special programme to 
     implement the process. We are committed to the repatriation 
     of Rohingyas as soon as repatriation can be accomplished 
     voluntarily, safely, and with dignity.
       The National Unity Government is a government whose primary 
     duty is to fight the illegal military dictatorship. While we 
     focus on this task, we are also planning for the future. We 
     believe it will be beneficial in building the future 
     democratic federal union to listen to all stakeholders in a 
     spirit of collaboration.
       Therefore, we invite Rohingyas to join hands with us and 
     with others to participate in this Spring Revolution against 
     the military dictatorship in all possible ways.
  Mr. McCONNELL. This statement represents months of work to build a 
cohesive, inclusive, and representative government and the best path 
toward national reconciliation and justice for victims of the 
Tatmadaw's violence. So the NUG's efforts deserve the full support of 
the world's oldest democracy. The pro-democracy movement must know that 
the United States continues to stand with them and that we are ready to 
support the hard work of national reconciliation that still lies ahead.

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