That the Senate—
recognizes the importance of free, fair, inclusive, transparent, participatory, and credible elections in Burma and that the 2020 elections mark a critical juncture in Burma’s democratic process;
stands with the people of Burma in their ambition for sustainable peace, a genuine democracy, and the realization of fundamental human rights for all;
calls upon the President and the Secretary of State to—
support Burma’s democratic transition, including by emphasizing the importance to that transition of this election as well as of the Government of Burma undertaking a credible and sustainable process of genuine national and ethnic reconciliation;
support free, fair, inclusive, transparent, participatory, and credible elections in Burma, including by working to ensure that the Tatmadaw and its affiliates do not interfere with vigorous public debate or the mechanism of the electoral process and that other government officials do not use official resources for electioneering;
call for a ceasefire in all Burmese states and localities to ensure that conflict is not used as an excuse to deny people the right to vote;
support the right to vote for internally displaced persons, refugees, and other Burmese communities outside of Burma, with specific attention to the disenfranchised Rohingya people;
condemn any action taken by the government, political parties, military, or Union Election Commission to limit civil society participation in the election, including prohibitions on voter education and election observation, or otherwise restrict civil society or humanitarian space in the lead up to the election or in the post-election period;
ensure that United States-based social media companies, including Facebook, not allow their platforms to be used as vehicles for spreading misinformation or advocating violence or voter intimidation to suppress voter participation; and
ensure that the Department of State’s 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices includes an extensive evaluation of the Burmese election, including an assessment of inclusivity, participation, and interference;
calls upon the United States Government, in partnership with the international community, to ensure that the Union Election Commission functions as an independent electoral management body that establishes a regulatory framework that fosters fair, open, and transparent electoral processes, and that the Tatmadaw publicly affirms that it will honor the results of such elections;
calls upon the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to work with like-minded regional and international organizations, such as the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the Asian Network for Free Elections, People’s Alliance for Credible Elections (PACE), and the Carter Center, to ensure that the general elections in Burma meet international standards of free and fair elections, including by seeking full and unimpeded access to all aspects of the electoral process for international and domestic observers; and
calls on the President to consider sanctioning individuals within the Government of Burma, the Tatmadaw, and among military associated businesses and ultranationalist groups, whom the United States Government determines undermine free, fair, inclusive, transparent, participatory, and credible elections in Burma or the safety of such elections.