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1 1 (January 10, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govycx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Cogesoa ReeaclSrvc January 10, 2019 U.S. Relations with Burma: Key Issues in 2019 In 2018, the 115th Congress was generally critical of the Trump Administration's Burma policy, particularly its limited response to atrocities committed by the Burmese military against the Rohingya, intensifying conflict with ethnic insurgencies, and rising concerns about political repression and civil rights. In December 2018, Congress passed the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-409), which prohibits the provision of funding for International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) Program in Burma for fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Major Developments in Burma in 2018 At the end of 2018, an estimated one million Rohingya, most of whom fled atrocities committed by Burma's military (Tamadaw) in late 2017, remained in refugee camps in Bangladesh, unable and unwilling to return to Burma's Rakhine State given the current policies of the Burmese government. Also in 2018, fighting between Burma's military, or Tatmadaw, and various ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) escalated in Kachin and Shan States, and spread into Chin, Karen (Kayin), and Rakhine States, while efforts to negotiate a nationwide ceasefire stalled. In December 2018, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing announced a four-month unilateral ceasefire in eastern (but not western) Burma, possibly signaling a new flexibility in the peace negotiations. Many EAOs remain skeptical. The Rohingya Crises More than 700,000 Sunni Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in late 2017, seeking to escape Tatmadaw forces that destroyed almost 400 Rohingya villages, killed at least 6,700 Rohingya (according to human rights groups and Doctors Without Borders), and sexually assaulted hundreds of Rohingya women and girls. Repatriation under an October 2018 agreement between the two nations is stalled as the Burmese government is unable or unwilling to establish conditions that would allow the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya to Rakhine State. Among the conditions sought by the Rohingya are their return to locations at or near their original villages, recognition as an indigenous ethnic minority, restoration of their full citizenship, and establishment of an accountability mechanism to investigate and prosecute the alleged atrocities. Meanwhile, smaller numbers continue to add to those Rohingya in need of humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh. Burma's mixed military/civilian government has so far denied any systematic and/or widespread misconduct by Burma's security forces, and continues to deny the United Nations, international humanitarian assistance organizations, and local and international media unrestricted access to northern Rakhine State. https://crsrepo Figure I. Map of Burma (Myanmar) Source: CRS The Stalled Peace Process The 3rd session of the 21st Century Panglong Conference- an effort to forge a nationwide ceasefire agreement between the government, the military, and EAOs-was held in July, but made little progress towards ending the long-standing conflict. Two of the larger EAOs, the Karen National Union and the Restoration Council of Shan State, subsequently suspended their participation in the formal peace process. In December 2018, Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing announced a four-month unilateral ceasefire in western (but not eastern) Burma, and reversed his previous objection to the inclusion of three other EAOs-the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army-in the peace talks. Violation of Human Rights and Civil Liberties According to some analysts, Burma's mixed military/civilian government responded to domestic and international criticism in 2018 by curtailing freedom of speech and press freedom. In September 2018, Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, reporters investigating the alleged human rts.congressgov 0

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