IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 56 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 4, 2007 

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to 

take action to ensure a peaceful transition to democracy 

in Burma. 

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 


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SCON 56 RFH 

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 the new ASEAN Charter, 

the Charter ‘‘will make ASEAN a more rules-based organization and . . . will put in place a system of compliance 


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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 2007 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 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) joins the foreign ministers of member na4 tions of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 

5 (ASEAN) that have expressed concern over the 

6 human rights situation in Burma; 

7 (2) encourages ASEAN to take more substan8 tial steps to ensure a peaceful transition to democ9 racy in Burma; 


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1 (3) welcomes steps by ASEAN to strengthen its 

2 internal governance through the adoption of a for3 mal ASEAN charter; 

4 (4) urges ASEAN to ensure that all member 

5 nations live up to their membership obligations and 

6 adhere to ASEAN’s core principles, including re7 spect for and commitment to human rights; and 

8 (5) would welcome a decision by ASEAN, con9 sistent with its core documents and its new charter, 

10 to review Burma’s membership in ASEAN and to 

11 consider appropriate disciplinary measures, including 

12 suspension, until such time as the Government of 

13 Burma has demonstrated an improved respect for 

14 and commitment to human rights. 

Passed the Senate November 16, 2007. 

Attest: NANCY ERICKSON, 

Secretary. 


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