IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 636 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding Burma’s 
2015 elections. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 3, 2016 
Mr. CROWLEY (for himself and Mr. CHABOT) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
regarding Burma’s 2015 elections. 
Whereas Burma carried out general elections on November 8, 
2015; 
Whereas of the 75 percent of the seats in the national par-
liament contested in the elections, the National League 
for Democracy won 77 percent of those seats, including 
majorities in both houses of parliament, allowing it to 
form a governing majority with the right to nominate the 
President and nonmilitary Vice President; 
Whereas the pre-election environment included significant 
structural problems put in place by the incumbent au-
thorities via the 2008 military-backed constitution, in-
cluding article 59(f), which may block opposition leader 
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming President; re-
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quirements that 25 percent of the seats in the national 
and regional parliaments must be filled by soldiers ap-
pointed by the military leadership, and article 436, which 
gives the military’s parliamentary minority the ability to 
veto key constitutional amendments; 
Whereas despite this environment, domestic and international 
observers indicated that with respect to the seats being 
contested, the day of the election was largely carried out 
in an organized, peaceful, and historic fashion; 
Whereas the Carter Center indicated in its post-elections 
statement that the Burmese peoples’, ‘‘ . . . empower-
ment and commitment to the democratic process was not 
only remarkable but crucial to counterbalancing the con-
siderable structural impediments to fully democratic elec-
tions. [. . .] However, [Burma’s] transition from author-
itarian rule to democracy is incomplete. Additional demo-
cratic advances are required to be fully consistent with 
broadly recognized international standards for democratic 
elections and governance. The constitutional framework 
for elections is heavily flawed, limiting the fundamental 
democratic nature of the elected bodies and undermining 
public confidence in work of the election administration.’’; 
Whereas the United States Department of State described 
the elections as an, ‘‘important step forward’’, yet, ‘‘far 
from perfect’’, and indicated that there ‘‘, . . . remain 
important structural and systemic impediments to the re-
alization of full democratic and civilian government, in-
cluding the reservation of a large number of unelected 
seats for the military; the disfranchisement of groups of 
people who voted in previous elections, including the 
Rohingya; and the disqualification of candidates based on 
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arbitrary application of citizenship and residency require-
ments.’’; 
Whereas the incumbent government continued to arrest, de-
tain, and charge individuals who had engaged in peaceful 
political activities in the pre-election period, and is con-
tinuing the prosecution of these cases in the post-election 
period; 
Whereas Burma’s military has continued attacks in ethnic 
nationality areas, particularly in Shan and Kachin states, 
causing civilian displacement and casualties during the 
pre-and post-election periods, despite limited cease-fire 
and national reconciliation talks initiated by the current 
government; 
Whereas the scale of the National League for Democracy’s 
victory gives it the right to select a new president and 
form a new government, but the 2008 constitution may 
prohibit the NLD from selecting its leader, Daw Aung 
San Suu Kyi, as a candidate for President and still gives 
the military the power to appoint the ministers of de-
fense, border affairs, and interior affairs, key ministries 
where reforms are needed to secure Burma’s democratic 
future; 
Whereas Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has for decades stood as 
the leader of Burma’s peaceful, nonviolent opposition 
movement despite years of house arrest, and has consist-
ently called for peaceful national reconciliation in Burma; 
Whereas the United States Congress awarded Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal in 2008 and pre-
sented the award in a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda 
in September 2012; 
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Whereas the President of Burma and the Commander in 
Chief of the Burmese military have publicly stated they 
will support a timely and smooth transition to a new 
NLD-led government; and 
Whereas Burma’s new government faces numerous political, 
social and economic challenges, many of which will re-
quire cooperation with institutions of governance that re-
main constitutionally under the control of the Burmese 
military: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the Burmese peoples’ profound 
desire for change as reflected in the vote on Novem-
ber 8, 2015; 
(2) congratulates those who chose to operate in 
the spirit of democracy, whether they won or lost in-
dividual seats; 
(3) acknowledges the important roles played by 
the international community, Election Day workers, 
party observers, and domestic election observers in 
preventing fraud; 
(4) acknowledges that while Burma has taken 
steps toward democratic rule, many important issues 
remain unresolved including constitutional, legal, 
economic, and security challenges that cause serious 
harm and violations of the basic rights of the people 
of Burma; 
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(5) expresses its deep concern about ongoing at-
tacks in the Kachin and Shan states; 
(6) expresses its deep concern about the plight 
of the Rohingya people, and urges the current and 
future governments of Burma to end discriminatory 
practices and instead work toward restoration of and 
respect for the rights of the Rohingya and all the 
people of Burma; 
(7) urges the government and all other stake-
holders to support constitutional reform that would 
allow Burma to assume its place amongst the demo-
cratic nations of the world; 
(8) calls on the President of the United States 
and Secretary of State to focus on— 
(A) securing solutions to urgent human 
rights and humanitarian problems, including 
fulfillment of the 11 human rights and security 
commitments made by the current President of 
Burma to President Obama; 
(B) supporting changes to issues described 
by the Department of State as ‘‘structural and 
systemic impediments to the realization of full 
democratic and civilian government’’ including 
constitutional changes; 
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(C) bringing about the immediate and un-
conditional release of all political prisoners, in-
cluding those awaiting trial or sentencing; and 
(D) supporting an end to offensives 
against ethnic nationalities and the creation of 
a peaceful federal union acceptable to the peo-
ple of Burma; and 
(9) urges the incumbent government to support 
a timely, peaceful, and effective transfer of power to 
the new government. 
Æ 
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