Condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the violence in and an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine in Burma.

Bill: 115-hconres-90
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Crowley, Joseph [D-NY-14]
Introduced: 2017-11-07
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

Bangladesh

Burma

Congressional tributes

Foreign aid and international relief

Human rights

Racial and ethnic relations

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Sanctions

United Nations
Latest action: action_date: 2017-12-07
text: Received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-11-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Condemns the attacks against civilians by Burma's security services and calls on Burma's Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, to end such attacks in the state of Rakhine.</p> <p> Expresses appreciation to the government of Bangladesh for providing refuge to those fleeing violence. </p> <p>Condemns the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks but warns that these attacks do not justify the response that has resulted in severe human rights violations and atrocities against civilians. </p> <p>Calls on Burma's government and military and security forces to: (1) implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, and (2) allow humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced persons. </p> <p>Urges support and access for the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Burma. </p> <p>Calls on Burma's military and government to allow refugees to return to Burma and to change laws and policies that have contributed to insecurity in Rakhine. </p> <p>Calls on the President to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses, including members of Burma's military and security services. </p>

action_date: 2017-12-06
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p>Condemns the attacks against civilians by Burma's (Myanmar's) military and security forces and calls on Burma's Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, to end such attacks in the state of Rakhine.</p> <p> Expresses appreciation to the government of Bangladesh for providing refuge to those fleeing violence. </p> <p>Condemns the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army attacks and the violence in Rakhine and Rohingya communities, but warns that these attacks do not justify the response by Burmese military and security forces that has resulted in severe human rights violations and atrocities against civilians.</p> <p>Calls on Burma's government and military and security forces to: (1) implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, and (2) allow humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced persons. </p> <p>Urges support and access for the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Burma. </p> <p>Calls on Burma's military and government to allow refugees to return to Burma in a manner consistent with internationally recognized principles of human rights and refugee protection and to change laws and policies that have contributed to insecurity in Rakhine. </p> <p>Calls on the President of the United States to impose sanctions on members of the Burmese military and security forces who are responsible for human rights abuses. </p>

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 90 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2017 Mr. Crowley (for himself and Mr. Chabot ) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the attacks in and an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine in Burma.

Whereas, on August 25, 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army carried out attacks on Government positions in the state of Rakhine in Burma ( Rakhine State ); Whereas in recent decades the Rohingya people have lost, with the support of the Burmese Government, a range of civil and political rights, including citizenship, and face barriers today such that they are mostly stateless peoples; Whereas since the August 25 attacks, Burma’s military and security forces, as well as private mobs, have carried out attacks resulting in over 600,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh; Whereas Amnesty International described the attacks by stating that Myanmar security forces are setting northern Rakhine State ablaze in a targeted campaign to push the Rohingya people out of Myanmar. ; Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called for an end to the violence and attacks; Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights has said that the response by the military is grossly disproportionate and a textbook example of ethnic cleansing ; Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, This violence must stop, this persecution must stop ; Whereas under Burma’s military-drafted constitution, the country’s military and security services are not subject to civilian rule and only Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, can command troops to cease attacks impacting civilians in Rakhine State; Whereas Burma’s civilian Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has not taken necessary steps to address the violence and should take further measures; Whereas the international community had high hopes for Burma’s elected Government and expected that elected officials take action to prevent violence and secure rights; Whereas the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State ( Rakhine Commission ) examined, beginning in 2016, the underlying tensions in Rakhine State and made a series of recommendations including a wide range of suggestions and policy changes dealing with humanitarian aid, citizenship, reconciliation, and peace; Whereas the Rakhine Commission stated, While Myanmar has every right to defend its own territory, a highly militarised response is unlikely to bring peace to the area. What is needed is a calibrated approach—one that combines political, developmental, security and human rights responses to ensure that violence does not escalate and inter-communal tensions are kept under control. ; and Whereas the United States is providing an initial $32,000,000 in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Rohingya fleeing violence from Rakhine State into Bangladesh, as well as the needs of internally displaced persons in Rakhine State and host communities in Bangladesh: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) condemns the attacks against civilians by Burma’s security services and calls on Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, to immediately end all attacks against civilians in the state of Rakhine in Burma; (2) expresses deepest appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh for providing refuge to those fleeing violence and attacks; (3) condemns the attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, but warns that these attacks do not justify the unrestrained response that has resulted in severe human rights violations, murderous ethnic cleansing, and atrocities against civilians; (4) calls on Burma’s Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Burmese military and security forces to work constructively to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, including those relating to justice, reconciliation, humanitarian aid, and citizenship; (5) calls on Burma’s Government and its military and security services to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced persons; (6) urges support and access for the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Burma; (7) calls on Burma’s military and Government to allow refugees to voluntarily return to Burma without undue restriction and to change laws and policies that have contributed to insecurity in the state of Rakhine; and (8) calls on the President to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses, including members of Burma’s military and security services.

tv_txt: IV 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 90 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the violence in and an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine in Burma.

Whereas on August 25, 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army carried out attacks on Government positions in the state of Rakhine in Burma ( Rakhine State ); Whereas in recent decades the Rohingya people have lost, through systematic discrimination by Burmese national, state and local authorities, a range of civil and political rights, including citizenship, and face barriers today such that they are mostly stateless peoples; Whereas since the August 25 attacks, Burma’s military and security forces, as well as private mobs, have carried out attacks resulting in over 600,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh; Whereas Amnesty International described the attacks by stating that Myanmar security forces are setting northern Rakhine State ablaze in a targeted campaign to push the Rohingya people out of Myanmar. ; Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called for an end to the violence and attacks; Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights has said that the response by the military is grossly disproportionate and a textbook example of ethnic cleansing ; Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, This violence must stop, this persecution must stop ; Whereas under Burma’s military-drafted constitution, the country’s military and security services are not subject to civilian rule and only Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, can command troops to cease attacks impacting civilians in Rakhine State; Whereas Burma’s civilian Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has not yet taken necessary steps to address the violence and should take further measures, including to address the pervasive problem of hate speech; Whereas the United States acknowledges the democratic transition underway in Burma, maintains hope for further genuine democratic reforms, and expects Burma’s elected officials to take action to prevent violence and secure rights; Whereas the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State ( Rakhine Commission ) examined, beginning in 2016, the underlying tensions in Rakhine State and made a series of recommendations including a wide range of suggestions and policy changes dealing with humanitarian aid, citizenship, reconciliation, and peace; Whereas the Rakhine Commission stated, While Myanmar has every right to defend its own territory, a highly militarized response is unlikely to bring peace to the area. What is needed is a calibrated approach—one that combines political, developmental, security and human rights responses to ensure that violence does not escalate and inter-communal tensions are kept under control. ; Whereas the United Nations estimates that $434 million in humanitarian assistance will be needed to provide life-sustaining support to 1,200,000 people, both refugees and host communities, in the first few months of this crisis; and Whereas the United States is providing an initial $32 million in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Rohingya fleeing violence from Rakhine State into Bangladesh, as well as the needs of internally displaced persons in Rakhine State and host communities in Bangladesh: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) condemns the attacks against civilians by Burma’s military and security forces and calls on Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, to immediately end all attacks against civilians in the state of Rakhine in Burma; (2) expresses deepest appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh for providing refuge to those fleeing violence and attacks; (3) condemns the attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the violence in Rakhine and Rohingya communities, but warns that these attacks do not justify the unrestrained response by Burmese military and security forces that has resulted in severe human rights violations, murderous ethnic cleansing, and atrocities against civilians; (4) calls on Burma’s Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Burmese military and security forces to work constructively to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, including those relating to justice, reconciliation, humanitarian aid, and citizenship; (5) calls on Burma’s Government and its military and security services to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced persons; (6) urges support and access for the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Burma; (7) calls on Burma’s military and Government to allow refugees to voluntarily return to Burma in a manner consistent with internationally recognized principles of human rights and refugee protection and to change laws and policies that have contributed to insecurity in the state of Rakhine; and (8) calls on the President of the United States to impose sanctions on members of the Burmese military and security forces who are responsible for human rights abuses.

Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 90 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 7, 2017 Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and calling for an end to the violence in and an immediate restoration of humanitarian access to the state of Rakhine in Burma.

Whereas on August 25, 2017, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army carried out attacks on Government positions in the state of Rakhine in Burma ( Rakhine State ); Whereas in recent decades the Rohingya people have lost, through systematic discrimination by Burmese national, state and local authorities, a range of civil and political rights, including citizenship, and face barriers today such that they are mostly stateless peoples; Whereas since the August 25 attacks, Burma’s military and security forces, as well as private mobs, have carried out attacks resulting in over 600,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh; Whereas Amnesty International described the attacks by stating that Myanmar security forces are setting northern Rakhine State ablaze in a targeted campaign to push the Rohingya people out of Myanmar. ; Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called for an end to the violence and attacks; Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights has said that the response by the military is grossly disproportionate and a textbook example of ethnic cleansing ; Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, This violence must stop, this persecution must stop ; Whereas under Burma’s military-drafted constitution, the country’s military and security services are not subject to civilian rule and only Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, can command troops to cease attacks impacting civilians in Rakhine State; Whereas Burma’s civilian Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has not yet taken necessary steps to address the violence and should take further measures, including to address the pervasive problem of hate speech; Whereas the United States acknowledges the democratic transition underway in Burma, maintains hope for further genuine democratic reforms, and expects Burma’s elected officials to take action to prevent violence and secure rights; Whereas the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State ( Rakhine Commission ) examined, beginning in 2016, the underlying tensions in Rakhine State and made a series of recommendations including a wide range of suggestions and policy changes dealing with humanitarian aid, citizenship, reconciliation, and peace; Whereas the Rakhine Commission stated, While Myanmar has every right to defend its own territory, a highly militarized response is unlikely to bring peace to the area. What is needed is a calibrated approach—one that combines political, developmental, security and human rights responses to ensure that violence does not escalate and inter-communal tensions are kept under control. ; Whereas the United Nations estimates that $434 million in humanitarian assistance will be needed to provide life-sustaining support to 1,200,000 people, both refugees and host communities, in the first few months of this crisis; and Whereas the United States is providing an initial $32 million in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of Rohingya fleeing violence from Rakhine State into Bangladesh, as well as the needs of internally displaced persons in Rakhine State and host communities in Bangladesh: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1) condemns the attacks against civilians by Burma’s military and security forces and calls on Burma’s Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing, to immediately end all attacks against civilians in the state of Rakhine in Burma; (2) expresses deepest appreciation to the Government of Bangladesh for providing refuge to those fleeing violence and attacks; (3) condemns the attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the violence in Rakhine and Rohingya communities, but warns that these attacks do not justify the unrestrained response by Burmese military and security forces that has resulted in severe human rights violations, murderous ethnic cleansing, and atrocities against civilians; (4) calls on Burma’s Government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Burmese military and security forces to work constructively to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, including those relating to justice, reconciliation, humanitarian aid, and citizenship; (5) calls on Burma’s Government and its military and security services to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to refugees and internally displaced persons; (6) urges support and access for the United Nations Fact Finding Mission to Burma; (7) calls on Burma’s military and Government to allow refugees to voluntarily return to Burma in a manner consistent with internationally recognized principles of human rights and refugee protection and to change laws and policies that have contributed to insecurity in the state of Rakhine; and (8) calls on the President of the United States to impose sanctions on members of the Burmese military and security forces who are responsible for human rights abuses.

Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk