US seeks sustained pressure on Myanmar to end Rohingya crisis

Dhaka Tribune
UNB
Publish : 27 Sep 2023,

File photo of US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya. Photo: Collected

US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has called on the international community to maintain pressure on Myanmar’s military regime to end the Rohingya crisis and create the conditions for their voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable repatriation in the future.

Rohingya repatriation: US urged to create “safe protection zone” in Myanmar

US Announces $26M in New Aid for Rohingya

THE GLOBAL POST
Staff Writer
03/08/23

    

Myanmar Rohingya refugees in a refugee camp in Teknaf, in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. Photo: Munir Uz Zaman, AFP

The United States announced on Tuesday $26 million in new humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and elsewhere in that region of Asia.

Around one million members of the mostly Muslim Rohingya community live in squalid relief camps in Bangladesh, many after fleeing a 2017 military crackdown in neighboring Myanmar. The onslaught caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

U.S. Repeats 'Genocide' Accusations Against China

Radio Free Europe
Radio Liberty
RFE/RL

July 12, 2021

Uyghurs and others pray in the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar in western China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region during a government-organized trip for foreign journalists in April.

The United States has repeated genocide allegations against China over its treatment of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and members of Xinjiang's other indigenous, mostly Muslim, ethnic groups.

The message came alongside additional sanctions warnings against Burma, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan over ethnic cleansing in their respective conflicts.

All were contained in materials sent by the Biden administration as part of the State Department's annual report to Congress on the prevention of genocides and atrocities.

China Boosts Support for Myanmar Army, Countering U.S. Sanctions

Bloomberg News
9 June 2021

China says its policy toward Myanmar remains unaffected by the country’s domestic situation, bolstering support for a regime that has faced multiple rounds of sanctions from the U.S. and its Western allies following a coup four months ago.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin during a meeting on Tuesday in Chongqing that Beijing would continue implementing bilateral projects in the Southeast Asian nation, Myanmar state broadcaster MRTV reported.

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.

Study in the U.S.

Press Release: U.S. Embassy Resumes Student Visa Appointments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 11, 2021

Yangon – The Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy will open visa interview appointments for student visa applicants later this month.

Students in Myanmar deserve the opportunity to pursue their education in the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar is committed to supporting the people’s aspirations for a brighter future through cultural and academic exchange.

US orders some diplomats to leave Myanmar as unrest grows

AP
March 30, 2021

Anti-coup protesters stand beside a burning tire as they fortify their position against the military during a demonstration in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday March 30, 2021. Thailand’s prime minister denied Tuesday that his country’s security forces have sent villagers back to Myanmar who fled from military airstrikes and said his government is ready to shelter anyone who is escaping fighting.(AP Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department on Tuesday ordered non-essential U.S. diplomats and their families to leave Myanmar, as a deadly government crackdown on demonstrators protesting last month’s coup intensifies.

The department said in a brief statement it would require non-emergency U.S. government employees and their dependents to depart the country in an upgrade of its previous instructions from Feb. 14 that had allowed them to leave voluntarily. The department also reiterated an earlier warning for Americans not to travel to Myanmar, also known as Burma.

US ratchets up pressure on Myanmar’s military after its bloodiest weekend since the coup

VOX

Alex Ward@AlexWardVoxalex.ward@vox.com 

Mar 29, 2021,

Reports indicate Myanmar’s junta killed about 140 people over the weekend. The Biden administration is responding with trade restrictions.


A relative cries during the funeral of a protester in Myanmar on March 29. AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration is stepping up its actions to punish Myanmar’s ruling military junta in the wake of a bloody weekend targeting civilians protesting against the February military coup.

On Saturday, the military commemorated Armed Forces Day by killing about 140 people — including six children — in 44 cities and towns amid nationwide peaceful protests, according to local reports and activists. One of the children, 11-year-old Aye Myat Thu, was buried with her drawings and toys as her family mourned beside her.

U.S. and Britain blacklist Myanmar military-controlled companies

Brinkwire

JONATHAN EDWARDS 

MARCH 29, 2021

WASHINGTON, March 25 – The United States and Britain imposed sanctions on conglomerates controlled by Myanmar’s military on Thursday, following the generals’ Feb. 1 coup and deadly crackdown, with Washington calling it a response to “abhorrent violence and abuses.”

The U.S. Treasury department said its sanctions targeted Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Ltd (MEC).

Britain imposed similar sanctions on MEHL, citing the Myanmar military’s serious human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims.

U.S. 'horrified' by Myanmar violence, Blinken says after bloodiest day since military coup

nbc News

By Yuliya Talmazan
March 28, 2021, 

The courageous people of Burma reject the military’s reign of terror,” Blinken said after the worst day of violence in Myanmar since last month's coup..

 

The United States is “horrified” by the bloodshed in Myanmar, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday, after the country’s bloodiest day of protests since last month’s military coup.

The violent crackdown on demonstrators by Myanmar’s security forces showed that the junta will “sacrifice the lives of the people to serve the few,” Blinken said in a tweet.

U.S. Treasury Blacklists Largest Firms Run by Myanmar Milit

Bloomberg

Philip Heijmans

25 March 2021,

Protesters stand off against military junta forces in Yangon on March 16. Source: Getty

The U.S. imposed a fresh round of sanctions targeting the Myanmar military by blacklisting the two largest business entities it controls, according to the Treasury Department.

The sanctions announced Thursday against Myanmar Economic Corp. and Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd., which freeze any assets the two companies hold in the U.S., mark the most severe action taken by any country against the military since it overthrew the civilian-elected government in a coup on Feb. 1.

“These sanctions specifically target the economic resources of Burma’s military regime, which is responsible for the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government and the ongoing repression of the Burmese people,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.

U.S. and Britain blacklist Myanmar military-controlled companies

REUTERS
Reuters Staff

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States and Britain imposed sanctions on conglomerates controlled by Myanmar’s military on Thursday, following the generals’ Feb. 1 coup and deadly crackdown, with Washington calling it a response to “abhorrent violence and abuses.”

FILE PHOTO: Firecrackers explode as protestors take cover behind a barricade during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar March 21, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

The U.S. Treasury department said its sanctions targeted Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Ltd (MEC).

Britain imposed similar sanctions on MEHL, citing the Myanmar military’s serious human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims.

U.S. Blacklists Myanmar Police Chief, Army Units Over Deadly Crackdown

U.S. News

By Reuters,
Wire Service Content 
SIMON LEWIS AND Doina Chiacu
March 22, 2021

FILE PHOTO: Protesters run during a crackdown of an anti-coup protests at Hlaing Township in Yangon, Myanmar March 17, 2021. Picture taken March 17, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoREUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury Department said on Monday it was imposing sanctions on two members of Myanmar's ruling junta, including the chief of police, and two military units linked to the deadly repression of protests again the army's coup, as Washington warned of more action.

US imposes sanctions on Myanmar companies as violence against protesters continues

JURIST
Robert Kaufman | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US
MARCH 12, 2021 

The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned the two adult children of commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military, Min Aung Hlaing, on Wednesday in response to the continued violence by military forces against protesters.

In a press release, the Treasury Department labeled Min Aung Hlang as the leader of the military coup against Myanmar’s democratically elected government, saying:

The United States stands in solidarity with the people of Burma, and we remain committed to promoting accountability for those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence. The United States urges the immediate release of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, as well as all others unjustly detained since February 1, including members of civil society, journalists, and human rights activists.

U.S. Offers Protected Status For People From Myanmar As Coup Leaders Crack Down

npr

MICHELE KELEMEN

March 12, 2021

Security forces stand guard on a road as people are arrested, next to dismantled barricades that were set up by protesters demonstrating against the military coup, in Yangon, Myanmar, on Friday.AFP via Getty Images

Updated at 6:20 p.m.

The United States will offer temporary protected status to people from Myanmar who fear returning home, the Biden administration said Friday, as it tries to ratchet up pressure on military coup leaders in the Southeast Asian country, and provide protection to some of those criticizing it.

U.S. trying to contact Aung San Suu Kyi, detainees after civilian officials die in Myanmar military custody

CNBC

Christian Nunley@CNUNLEY7
FRI, MAR 12 2021

KEY POINTS

• The U.S. is still trying to contact Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted from power as Myanmar’s de facto head of government in a Feb. 1 coup.
• Two members of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy have died after Myanmar security forces detained them.
• “We’re working through appropriate channels to make contact with those detained,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
• The U.S. and China have a meeting in Anchorage, Alaska on March 18 to discuss a wide range of topics. Myanmar may be on the docket.

Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi looks on before the UN’s International Court of Justice on December 11, 2019 in the Peace Palace of The Hague, on the second day of her hearing on the Rohingya genocide case.

Koen Van Weel | AFP | Getty Images

The U.S. is still working to contact Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian detainees in Myanmar, the State Department said Friday, after two officials with her National League for Democracy party died in military custody over the past week.

US reiterates support for pro-democracy protests in Myanmar

Hundustan Times
ANI, Washington
PUBLISHED ON FEB 22, 2021

 

This comes after the Myanmar police opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in the city of Mandalay on Saturday, killing two people and wounding dozens.

US State Department Spokesman Ned Price speaks to reporters during a news briefing at the State Department in Washington, US(REUTERS)

The US continues to stand with the people of Burma as they voice their aspirations for peace and democracy and it calls on the military to stop violence, release all those unjustly detained and cease attacks on journalists and activists, according to US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Sunday (local time).

U.S. 'Stands With The People,' Imposes Sanctions On Myanmar's Coup Leaders

nrp

SCOTT NEUMAN

February 11, 2021

Women protest on Wednesday against the military coup that toppled the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi earlier this month. The Biden administration on Thursday announced sanctions against several of the coup leaders.Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on 10 current and retired top-ranking leaders in Myanmar's military following a coup earlier this month that toppled the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, the Treasury Department announced it was freezing U.S.-based assets belonging to the sanctioned individuals. The list includes six members of the newly installed junta, including its head, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and his deputy, Soe Win. Hlaing was already on a U.S. sanctions list from 2019, when he was targeted for the army's brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in the country's western Rakhine state.

U.S. Can Impose Substantial Costs on Those Responsible for Coup in Myanmar: State Dept.

U.S News

By Reuters, 

Wire Service Content 

Feb. 10, 2021,

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The United States can impose substantial costs on those responsible for the coup in Myanmar, the State Department said on Wednesday after President Joe Biden said he approved an executive order that will pave the way for sanctions.

State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters that the continued demonstrations in Myanmar after the military detained elected leaders and seized power on Feb. 1. indicates the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for democracy.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Doina Chiacu and Daphne Psaledakis, Editing by Franklin Paul)


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