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1 1 (February 12, 2018)

handle is hein.crs/govchuv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF.ri E.$~ & February 12, 2018 U.S. Relations with Burma: Key Issues in 2018 Congress is examining the conduct of U.S. policy toward Burma (Myanmar) in light of an ongoing, major humanitarian crisis and other developments in Burma. While Congress was largely deferential to the Obama Administration's moves to normalize diplomatic relations with Burma, it may decide to play a more active role in formulating and monitoring U.S. policy toward Burma during the Trump Administration, particularly given large- scale human rights abuses by Burma's military. Legislation has been introduced-the BURMA Act of 2017 (H.R. 4223) and the Burma Human Rights and Freedom Act of 2017 (S. 2060)-that would modify U.S. policy to reflect recent events in Burma. Burma faced several major challenges in 2017, including the massive displacement of Rohingya from Rakhine State into Bangladesh, allegations of large-scale human rights violations by the Burmese military, an escalation in fighting in Kachin and Shan States, and growing dissatisfaction with the lack of political and economic reforms. The Burmese government, led by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, responded to these challenges in ways that drew criticism from the international community, particularly in terms of the treatment of the Rohingya. In some cases, however, their actions garnered widespread support domestically. nk.,, R, ,'.,g,,' ,.ie On August 25, 2017, a relatively new and little known Rohingya nationalist group, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), launched a coordinated attack on 30 security outposts in Burma's Rakhine State. The Burmese military, or Tatmadaw, responded with a clearance operation that resulted in the displacement of nearly 700,000 Sunni Rohingya to Bangladesh, the destruction of almost 400 Rohingya villages, the killing of at least 6,700 Rohingya (according to human rights groups and Doctors Without Borders), and the sexual assault of hundreds of Rohingya women and girls. The ARSA attack and the Tatmadaw's response has created significant humanitarian crises in Burma and neighboring Bangladesh with an estimated one million displaced Rohingya requiring assistance. The two nations are also planning a large-scale repatriation process, although many experts view this as premature. In addition, the international community, including the United States, has called on Burma to permit an independent international investigation into the alleged human rights violations that occurred after the ARSA attack. Some observers worry that Islamist extremists will attempt to radicalize the displaced Rohingya and increase the risk of terrorist activities in South and Southeast Asia. Burma's mixed military/civilian government has so far denied any systematic and/or widespread misconduct by Burma's security forces, but continues to deny international humanitarian assistance organizations, the local and international media, and a U.N. investigatory team access to the affected areas of northern Rakhmine State. For more about the Rohingya crises, see CRS Report R45016, The Rohingya Crises in Bangladesh and Burma. Burma has been riven by a low-grade civil war between government forces and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) since it became an independent sovereign state in 1948. In 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), assumed power after a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, and soon after identified ending the long-standing conflict as one of their top priorities. However, escalated fighting between the Tatmadaw and several of the EAOs in Kachin and Shan States, as well as the alleged human rights abuses in Rakhine State, have raised serious doubts about the prospects for peace. The 3rd session of the 21s' Century Panglong Conference-an effort to forge a peace agreement between the government, the military, and EAOs-which was tentatively scheduled for late January 2018, has been postponed at least until late February. For more about the Burma's conflict and its prospects for peace, see CRS In Focus IF10808, Burma's Peace Process: Narrowing Opportunities in 2018. According to some analysts, Burma's mixed military/civilian government has responded to domestic and international criticism by curtailing nominally protected civil liberties. Although the 2008 constitution protects freedom of speech, protesters and critics often are charged with violating old and new Burmese laws. Two Burmese reporters working for Reuters investigating the alleged human rights abuses in Rakhine State were arrested and charged with violating Burma's 1923 Official Secrets Act. Other journalists have been arrested following interviews with EAO leaders. Peaceful protesters have faced criminal charges for allegedly violating the 2011 Peaceful Processions and Peaceful Assembly Act. Several critics of the government have been charged under section 66(d) of the 2013 Telecommunications Act for allegedly defaming or threatening government officials. As a consequence, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), 236 people are either serving sentences or awaiting trial for their political activities. For more about political prisoners in Burma, CRS Report R44804, Burma's Political Prisoners and US. Policy: In Brief. .O 'T gognpo ' -p\qm ggmm g , q 'S a X 11LULANJILiN,

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