III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 320 

Congratulating the people of Burma on their commitment to peaceful 

elections. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2015 

Mr. MCCAIN (for himself, Mr. MCCONNELL, and Mr. DURBIN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the people of Burma on their commitment 

to peaceful elections. 

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 


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•SRES 320 IS 

and peaceful fashion despite broader structural concerns 

such as the disenfranchisement of the Rohingya; 

Whereas the ruling military-backed Union Solidarity 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) congratulates the people of Burma for em3 bracing democracy through their participation in the 


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1 November 8, 2015, general elections and for their 

2 continuing efforts in developing a free, democratic 

3 society that respects internationally recognized 

4 human rights; 

5 (2) recognizes the National League for Democ6 racy’s victory as a reflection of the will of the Bur7 mese people; 

8 (3) calls on the Union Solidarity Development 

9 Party to undertake a peaceful transfer of power and 

10 abide by the law to ensure an orderly and prompt 

11 transition to a new government; 

12 (4) encourages all parties to pursue national 

13 reconciliation talks and work together in the spirit 

14 of national unity to seek what is best for the coun15 try; 

16 (5) recognizes that while the Government of 

17 Burma has made important progress towards de18 mocratization, there remain important impediments 

19 to the realization of full democratic and civilian gov20 ernment, including the reservation of unelected seats 

21 for the military and the disenfranchisement of 

22 groups of people including the Rohingya; 

23 (6) expresses hope that newly elected members 

24 of parliament and a prompt and orderly transition 


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1 to a new government will herald a new generation of 

2 responsible leadership in Burma; 

3 (7) calls on the Government of Burma to sup4 port meaningful efforts to reform the 2008 Constitu5 tion of Burma, with the full and unfettered partici6 pation of the people of Burma and in a manner that 

7 promotes and protects democratic development of 

8 Burma and safeguards against arbitrary interference 

9 by the military; 

10 (8) supports negotiations between the Govern11 ment of Burma and ethnic-based peoples and organi12 zations; 

13 (9) encourages the President of the United 

14 States to take further steps toward normalization of 

15 relations with Burma and consider the potential re16 laxation of restrictions should the Union Solidarity 

17 Development Party respect the election results and 

18 proceed with a prompt and orderly transition in 

19 power; and 

20 (10) reaffirms that the people of the United 

21 States will continue to stand with the people of 

22 Burma in support of democracy, partnership, and 

23 peace. 

Æ 


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