U.S. Reimposes Economic Sanctions On Military Regime in Burma

JDSUPRA

June 7, 2021

Effective June 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) published new Burmese Sanctions Regulations (“BSR”) that implement President Biden’s February 10, 2021, Executive Order 14014 (“E.O. 14014”), which was issued in response to a coup by the Burmese military to overthrow the country’s democratically elected civilian government. The coup leaders have arrested and detained many of Burma’s government and political leaders, human rights advocates, journalists, and religious leaders in an explicit repudiation of Burma’s national elections that took place in November 2020. Despite widespread domestic and international protests against the coup, the Burmese military has thus far continued its use of violent repression and deadly force, killing or wounding hundreds of people, including young children.

Russia: Blinking, Bombing, Blockading And Burma

Strategy Page

May 6, 2021:

Russians are dismayed at the performance of their economy compared to the East European countries that also lost their communist government (and Russian occupation forces) after 1990. Those nations quickly established economic, diplomatic and military links with Western Europe and the rest of the developed nations. Russia tried to do the same but was hampered by more corruption and less experience with free market economies. In 1991 Russia had been without a free market economy for 70 years. There were was no tradition of free market economics. East European countries (as well as China) were different. They had not lost their free market economies until the late 1940s, meaning it was only 45 years since communism replaced free markets. These nations also had a lot of expatriates in the West who had prospered in the free market and still had ties with family back in the communist homeland. A lot of those expatriate kin were welcomed back even if they talked the local language with an odd accent. This made a big difference but Russian politicians chose to ignore this and blame the poor Russian economic performance on outsiders, namely the West. In 2014 the blame game turned violent when Russian invaded Ukraine, partly because Ukrainians wanted to emulate the East European nations. The invasion triggered economic sanctions from the West. Then there was a technical revolution in extracting oil (fracking) that turned the U.S. and Canada into major oil producers and exporters. This cut the world prince of Russia’s main export, oil and natural gas, by more than half. Over the next five years the major East European nations (Poland, Romania and Hungary) grew about 4 percent a year while Russian GDP grew by less than one percent a year. By 2019 most East European nations, including Turkey had higher per-capital income than Russians. This loss was widely felt, and experienced in Russia.

Burma, Moral Character And ASEAN – OpEd

eurasiareview

Kanbawza Win

May 5, 2021 

For the religious adherence of the world, one might be wondering of whether the people residing in Southeast Asia, ever has a moral obligation, just by witnessing the treatment of Burmese given by the group known as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). It can be witnessed that Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, are staunch Buddhist countries, while Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei are Muslim countries, Philippines is Christian and the Singaporean believes in Confucianism, a traditional philosophy of humanistic, rationalistic religion, and yet not a single aspect of all the world’s religious teachings are ever applied to the current Burmese crisis. Instead, they are all cocked eyed looking for how to exploit Burma’s vast natural and human resources, as they have done since 1988 under the so called “Constructive Engagement Policy.”

Burma and Bangladesh - Regional Crisis Response Fact Sheet #4, Fiscal Year (FY) 2021

Situation Report
Source :USAID
23 Apr 2021

Episode 190 -- Update on the Russia and Burma Sanctions Programs

JDSUPRA

April 18, 2021

Last week, the Biden Administration announced new and significant trade sanctions against Russia. The action was long expected given the Biden Administration’s criticism of Russia, and was a comprehensive response to Russia’s interference in the 2020 US election, its SolarWinds cyberattack and its ongoing occupation of Crimea and threatening addition of troops along the Ukraine border.

Over the last few months, OFAC has ratcheted up sanctions against Burma in response to the military coup and continuing crackdown against protesters.

In this Episode, Michael Volkov provides an overview on the Russia and Burma sanctions programs.

Link : Here

Treasury Sanctions Key Gems Enterprise in Burma

U.S. Embassy in Burma

By U.S. Mission Burma
April 8, 2021

News, Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE), a Burmese state-owned entity that is responsible for all gemstone activities in Burma. Gemstones are a key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that is violently repressing pro-democracy protests in the country and that is responsible for the ongoing lethal attacks against the people of Burma, including the killing of children. These sanctions are not directed at the people of Burma.

“Today’s action highlights Treasury’s commitment to denying the Burmese military sources of funding, including from key state-owned enterprises throughout Burma,” said Andrea Gacki, Director of the Office of the Foreign Assets Control. “The United States will continue to work tirelessly, including with partners throughout the region and the world, to support the restoration of democracy and rule of law in Burma and to bring accountability to those who seek to undermine these values.”

Myanmar Coup: Russia Calls Sanctions 'dangerous', Says It Could Lead To Civil Conflict

R. REPUBLICWORLD

Bhavya Sukheja

7th April, 2021

Amid political tensions in Myanmar, Russia said that sanctions against authorities in Burma were dangerous and could push country towards civil conflict.

Image: AP

Amid political tensions in Myanmar, Russia on April 6 said that sanctions against authorities in Burma were futile, extremely dangerous and could ultimately push the country towards civil conflict. Since February 1 coup, Myanmar has been embroiled in protest against the military government, which has responded with increasingly totalitarian surveillance and censorship measures in addition to the violence that has left more than 500 dead and thousands arrested. The cup and the subsequent crackdown has led to Western sanctions on the military and its lucrative business.

Protests In Burma

The Hitavada

By Gwynne Dyer

Date :06-Apr-2021

‘Non-violent struggle’ is rarely non-violent on both sides, but the oppressors find it hard to use unlimited force when the other side is using none at all. Especially when the whole world is watching. That is why non-violent movements succeed so often. If the protesters turn into just another Army, then all limitations on the use of force by the big, professional, well-equipped Army are lifted, and the bad guys win.

BURMA: STICK TO NON-VIOLENCE

KASHMIR TIMES

Gwynne Dyer. 

Dated: 4/2/2021

“Federalism is the ultimate political heresy in Burma. The army’s self-assigned task ever since independence has been maintaining the hegemony of the ethnic Bamar majority (about two-thirds of the country’s 54 million people) over the Karen, Shan, Mon, Chin, Kachin, Rakhine, Rohingya and Karenni minorities.”

The non-violent democratic resistance in Burma (or Myanmar, as the army renamed it in 1989) is living through terrible times, but statistics are on its side: most non-violent movements eventually win. But it’s hard to stay non-violent when you are up against a force as ruthless and brutal as the Tatmadaw.

Burma is at a crossroads

NEWAGE 

Dmitry Mosyakov
Apr 01,2021

— New Eastern Outlook

THE events occurring in Burma, where numerous street demonstrations have not subsided against the military, which took power into its own hands on February 1, 2021, continue to attract intense attention. The fact is that although a change from civilian to military power has taken place, it is absolutely unclear how events will further develop: whether the military will be able to retain power or, under the pressure of mass demonstrations and a split in its own ranks, Aung San Suu Kyi and her party members will return to power.

We must support the young people who can save democracy in Burma

THE HILL

BY MICHAEL BAILEY,
OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
03/25/21

© Getty Images

The streets of Burma, also called Myanmar, look very different today than they did only a month ago. Countless protesters now fill them in defiance of the recent military coup and human rights violations. Military control is certainly not new for Burma, but it is up against a stronger force this time, with a new generation of young people who want democracy, respect for human rights, and a more inclusive future for the country.

“A social cohesion is being propelled throughout the country faster than ever before,” says Aung Kyaw Moe, the founder and executive director of the Center for Social Integrity, a nonprofit dedicated to building diversity and inclusion in Burma. “Young people are calling in democracy and are resolved to do so through unity, dignity, and nonviolence.”

History of Burma, BURMA PROPER, PEGU, TAUNGU, TENNSSERIM AND ARAKAN

History of Burma 01 Phay by Malem Ningthouja

Burma Curse of Independence

Burma Curse of Independence by Charity N N Lwin

History of Buddhism in Burma a.D. 1000-1300

History of Buddhism in Burm... by Guhyaprajñāmitra3

History of the Bengalee Settlers in Burma

History of the Bengalee Set... by Phyo Win Latt

India Burma

India Burma by Bob Andrepont

History of Burma From a Multi-ethnic Perspective

History of Burma by Saw Kyaw Zin Htun

Notes on Ancient Geography of Burma

Notes on Ancient Geography ... by Zwe Thit (Rammarmray)

USA.- Biden called on members of the Security Council to act on the crises in Burma and Ethiopia

The Daily Guardian

Tony Joseph

Madrid, 19 (Europa Press)

02/10/2021 Joe Biden, President of the United States International President of North America, Michael Reynolds of the United States of America – POOL VIA CNP / ZUMA PRESS / CON

It requests action in Libya, Syria and Yemen and reaffirms the US commitment to multilateralism.

US President Joe Biden has called for members of the Security Council to act “urgently” in regional crises in Burma and Ethiopia, as well as in Libya, Syria and Yemen.

Through a statement, the White House has confirmed this meeting between the president and the council, where it has “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to world leadership on the basis of values ​​and reunification with international institutions, Especially with the United Nations. “

What next for Burma?

LONDON REVIEW OF BOOK

Thant Myint-U
18 MARCH 2021

With their recent coup d’état the Burmese army hoped for a surgical shift in power that would leave everything else more or less untouched. Instead, the coup has sent the economy into freefall, raised the possibility of international intervention and triggered a political earthquake. The fight is no longer over elections and constitutional amendments. One path leads to dictatorship without end. The other to a revolution whose exact shape is difficult to see. A crumbling economy may send the lives of tens of millions of poor and vulnerable people spiralling into disaster. And what unfolds in Burma may be impossible for the region, perhaps the world, to ignore: a failed state between India and China, at the heart of 21st-century Asia.

Tension had been mounting for weeks. Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the country’s de facto ruler since 2016, won a thumping victory in last November’s elections. Taking more than 60 per cent of the vote, she was set to consolidate her hold over Burmese politics, vowing to push for constitutional changes that would limit further the army’s once limitless powers.