U.S. Senate resolution to urge China, Japan to act on Myanmar

The U.S. Senate is set to introduce a draft resolution as early as Friday condemning the Myanmar junta's crackdown on demonstrators that will call on China to halt its military assistance to the country and encourage Japan, one of Myanmar's largest aid donors, to use its influence on the military government, congressional sources said.

The House of Representatives also plans to vote on a similar resolution in the near future, according to the sources. The resolution was initially introduced in the House in August and, following the recent developments in Myanmar, was amended to urge China and other parties to review their policies on Myanmar and use their influence to resolve the situation.

The latest wave of protests against the junta in Myanmar has been met with a severe crackdown by the government. At least nine people including a Japanese national have died and hundreds of Buddhist monks have been arrested.

The Senate is expected to pass the draft resolution unanimously as early as Friday afternoon, the sources said.

The nonbinding resolutions of the two houses are expected to draw bipartisan support and will likely step up pressure from the U.S. Congress not only on the Myanmar junta but also for Japan and China to act.

Sen. John Kerry, a 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, is the primary sponsor of the Senate resolution, which was co-sponsored by around 15 bipartisan members of the chamber as of Thursday afternoon, the sources said.

The draft Senate resolution, a copy of which was obtained by Kyodo News, states, ''The United States strongly condemns the use of violence against peaceful protestors in Burma (Myanmar), and calls on the Government of Burma to refrain from further violence, immediately cease attacks against ethnic minority civilians, and release (pro-democracy leader) Aung Sang Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.''

The draft resolution calls on ''China and all other nations that have provided military assistance to the government of Burma to suspend such assistance until civilian democratic rule is restored.''

It urges China to withdraw its objections to a January 2007 U.N. Security Council resolution condemning the Myanmar junta's actions against protesters.

''The United States and the United Nations should strongly encourage China, India, Russia, Japan and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)...to use their influence to convince the government of Burma to engage in dialogue with opposition leaders and ethnic minorities,'' it says.

The House's draft resolution was amended slightly to urge ''China and other countries that provide political and economic support to Burma's military junta to modify their policy on Burma.''

It added a clause stating, ''Congress underscores its expectation that Burmese government officials who order or participate in violent crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators will face justice for any crimes they commit.''