14 Republicans vote against resolution condemning Myanmar military coup

More than a dozen House Republicans voted Friday against a resolution condemning the military coup in Myanmar amid concerns over some of its language, drawing pushback from Democrats.

A House Democratic aide told The Hill that Republicans had raised concerns over a section of the resolution regarding election integrity, but Democrats refused to strip the language.

The measure ultimately passed the House in a broad 398-14 vote, condemning Myanmar’s military junta for overthrowing the country’s civilian government in a Feb. 1 takeover.

The GOP lawmakers who voted against the legislation were Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Ted Budd (N.C.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Andy Harris (Md.), Jody Hice (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Alex Mooney (W.Va.), Barry Moore (Ala.), Scott Perry (Pa.) and Chip Roy (Texas).

Biggs in a video statement Friday condemned the violence in Myanmar but emphasized that “we can’t simply be the military police for the entire world.”

“When we do that, that’s how we end up in Afghanistan for 20 years, that’s how we end up having military personnel in over 100 nations,” he said. “The resolutions won’t stop the military junta.”

The Democratic aide said House Republicans had raised concerns over language in the resolution referencing election integrity. Members of Myanmar’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) were deposed last month, with the military claiming that last year’s general election was invalid. 

“Whereas the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] claimed they had evidence of parliamentary election fraud perpetrated by the NLD and Burma’s Union Election Commission, an allegation that contradicted the judgment of several independent election monitoring organizations that the electoral process and outcome were credible despite minor irregularities,” the House resolution states.

Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), the sponsor of the measure, expressed disbelief after the vote that some conservatives would object to language deeming Myanmar’s election legitimate. He said that, with the blessing of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Democrats declined to strip the provision out, forcing Friday’s vote on a bill Democrats had hoped would skate through the House.

“I don’t mean to be naive, but this idea that we can’t say that our own election was legitimate, and we can’t talk about elections around the world because it reflects back [on our own],” Levin said. “There are still democracies hanging on by a thread in this world.” 

The vote comes as Myanmar’s military bats down pro-democracy protests with increasing force. At least 224 protesters have been killed and at least 2,258 people were arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

DAILY UPDATE (18/03)

224 killed by this junta coup

2258 arrested, charged, or sentenced since 1 Feb

1938 actively persecuted#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #MyanmarCoup

brief https://t.co/2sVu1AUcxC

detention list https://t.co/F99qP8zAna
fatality list https://t.co/T5qz8fua5f pic.twitter.com/3kA6udMLUI

— AAPP (Burma) (@aapp_burma) March 19, 2021

The House resolution specifically calls on the junta to release Myanmar’s civilian leaders from detention and allow elected officials to return to their seats in parliament.

Mike Lillis and Laura Kelly contributed.