This resolution condemns the military coup that took place in Burma (Myanmar) on February 1, 2021. It also calls on the Burmese military to (1) release all those detained arbitrarily in the coup, (2) restore all forms of communications, and (3) return to power all members of the civilian government.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 134 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2021
Mr. Levin of Michigan (for himself, Mr. Auchincloss, Mr. Baird, Mr.
Bera, Mr. Beyer, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Burchett, Mr.
Carson, Mr. Case, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Costa, Mr. Deutch,
Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Hern, Mr.
Hill, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Jackson, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr.
Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Malinowski,
Ms. Manning, Mr. McCaul, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Meijer, Mr. Moore
of Utah, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Price
of North Carolina, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Tenney,
Ms. Titus, Mrs. Wagner, Ms. Wild, and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
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.
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,
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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Mr. Meeks moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1563-1566)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 134.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1601-1602)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 14, 1 Present (Roll no. 97).(text: CR 03/18/2021 H1563-1564)
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On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 398 - 14, 1 Present (Roll no. 97). (text: CR 03/18/2021 H1563-1564)
Roll Call #97 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.