HR27

WHEREAS, the Legislature, recalling United Nations General Assembly resolutions 1325 (2000) on Women and Peace and Security, 1612 (2005) on Children and Armed Conflict, and 1265 (1999) and 1296 (2000) on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, and the statement of its President of 28 November 2006 (S/PRST/2006/48); and

WHEREAS, recalling action by the General Assembly to establish the “good offices” mission of the Secretary-General, and in this regard expressing strong support for the continuing efforts of the Secretary-General and his representatives; and

WHEREAS, welcoming the visits of the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs to Myanmar in May and November 2006 at the invitation of the Government of Myanmar, and expressing its full support for the requests the Under-Secretary-General made to the Government of Myanmar for release of political prisoners, a more inclusive, transparent and meaningful political process, free and unhindered humanitarian access, the cessation of hostilities in Karen State, and an agreement with the International Labor Organization to address forced labor complaints; and

WHEREAS, welcoming the efforts of United Nations agencies engaged in Myanmar, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Organization for Migration, UNAIDS, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF, the United Nations Office of Drug Control, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization; and

WHEREAS, welcoming efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expedite a peaceful transition to democratic rule, and noting the call for early release of political detainees in Myanmar contained in the Joint Communiqué of the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting of 25 July 2006 and reiterated at the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM VI) in Helsinki in September 2006; and

WHEREAS, expressing deep concern at the slow pace of tangible progress in the process towards national reconciliation in Myanmar and at the continuing detention of political prisoners, including the prolonged house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and emphasizing that an inclusive National Convention offers an opportunity for effective dialogue; and

WHEREAS, deploring the continued attacks by members of the Myanmar military in ethnic minority regions on civilians, including women and children, and in particular the attacks on civilians in Karen State that have led to increased numbers of internally displaced people and refugee flows; and

WHEREAS, recalling A/Res/61/232 (2006) of the General Assembly, and in this regard expressing deep concern at large-scale human rights violations in Myanmar, as cited in the report of the Special Reporter of 21 September 2006, including violence against unarmed civilians by the Myanmar military, unlawful killings, torture, rape, forced labor, the militarization of refugee camps, and the recruitment of child soldiers; and

WHEREAS, expressing deep concern that the restrictions by the Government of Myanmar on humanitarian actors contribute to increased hardship for the civilian population, particularly those who are most vulnerable and live in remote and conflict-ridden areas; and

WHEREAS, underlining the need for tangible progress in the overall situation in Myanmar in order to minimize the risks to peace and security in the region; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that this Body strongly urges the United Nations General Assembly to request by resolution that the Union of Myanmar cease attacks against civilians in ethnic minority regions and begin a substantive political dialogue leading to democratic transition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature:

(1) Expresses strong support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his representatives to implement his “good offices” mission, and welcomes the continuing efforts of all relevant United Nations agencies in this regard;

(2) Urges the Government of Myanmar to respond in a concrete, complete and timely manner to the efforts of the Secretary-General to enable him to fully implement his “good offices” mission;

(3) Calls on the Government of Myanmar to cease military attacks against civilians in ethnic minority regions and in particular to put an end to the associated human rights and humanitarian law violations against persons belonging to ethnic nationalities, including widespread rape and other forms of sexual violence carried out by members of the armed forces;

(4) Also calls upon the Government of Myanmar to permit international humanitarian organizations to operate without restrictions to address the humanitarian needs of the people of Myanmar;

(5) Further calls on the Government of Myanmar to cooperate fully with the International Labor Organization and its representatives in the eradication of forced labor;

(6) Calls on the Government of Myanmar to begin without delay a substantive political dialogue, which would lead to a genuine democratic transition, to include all political stakeholders, including representatives of ethnic nationality groups and political leaders; and

(7) Calls on the Government of Myanmar to take concrete steps to allow full freedom of expression, association, and movement by unconditionally releasing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners, lifting all constraints on all political leaders and citizens, and allowing the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political parties to operate freely.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the UN Secretary-General is requested to provide a report to the Legislature and Governor of the State of Hawaii, not later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008, regarding the situation in Myanmar, and any proposed legislation, if any.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to:

(1) The President of the United Nations General Assembly;

(2) The Secretary-General of the United Nations;

(3) The Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute;

(4) The Washington, D.C. Division of Human Rights Watch;

(5) The United States Office of Amnesty International;

(6) The Federation of American Scientists;

(7) The President and Board of Trustees of the Sesame Workshop;

(8) The Department of Political Science at the University of Hawaii;

(9) The Spark M. Matsunaga Institute For Peace at the University of Hawaii;

(10) The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and

(11) The Chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Myanmar Union; United Nations General Assembly Resolution

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	27
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII