Biden to sanction Myanmar coup perpetrators
The United States will impose new sanctions against those responsible for Burma's February 1 military coup and entities with which they have links, US President Joe Biden said.
The Democratic White House chairman said Washington would identify a first set of targets this week and also impose strict export controls. He added that his administration was prepared to initiate new measures.
These sanctions would prevent the generals who organised the coup in Myanmar from gaining access to $1 billion in funds his government maintains in the US. He also said she would announce additional actions against the military leaders and their families.
This is the first concrete step by the new US administration after Biden demanded that the generals restore democracy and release Myanmar National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains in detention.
Biden warned that "violence against those who assert their democratic rights is unacceptable" and that "the world is watching" after noting that protests were escalating. He said he had consulted on the issue with Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, and a range of nations in Southeast Asia. However, Biden's options are limited.
President Biden did not address the trade-off, except to say that he would continue to work with his international partners to urge other states to join his efforts.
During former President Donald Trump's administration he used sanctions frequently, but did not seek allies. Nor did he mention rights violations, unlike Biden, except when it came to Iran or China.
In July 2019, the Trump administration sanctioned some of the same military commanders for atrocities carried out against Rohingya Muslims. Among those sanctioned was army chief Min Aung Hlaing who took power on 31 January.
For his part, Biden's response to the Myanmar coup is proof that he will uphold US values through his foreign policy. He emphasised the need to call out and punish those who undermine democratic elections.
Earlier the US called the crisis an attack on Myanmar's transition to democracy. "We will work with our partners across the region and the world to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, as well as to hold accountable those responsible for reversing Burma's democratic transition," Biden said in a statement.
At the same time, Burma's security forces have arrested six former senior members of Aung San Suu Kyi's government, following arrests in the wake of the military coup.
