Washington: The U.S. will impose sanctions and other consequences on Myanmar’s military leaders in response to the coup carried out there earlier this month, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.
“The people of Burma are making their voices heard, and the world is watching,” Biden said. “We’ll be ready to impose additional measures, and we’ll continue to work with our international partners to urge other nations to join us in these efforts.”
Massive crowds of protesters have taken to the streets calling for Suu Kyi’s release and a return to democratic rule, defying curfews and gathering bans in major cities in recent days. Acknowledging the escalating tensions, Biden denounced violence against protesters, calling it “unacceptable.”
The sanctions could include individuals, family members and business interests, Biden added. The order will also prevent military leaders from accessing some $1 billion in Burmese funds being held in the U.S.
He said his administration will freeze U.S. assets that benefit Myanmar’s government, while maintaining support to healthcare, civil society groups and other efforts that benefit its people directly.
Biden also described the coup as an issue of both bipartisan and international concern. He said his team has been consulting with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — who he described as having “a very keen interest in this” — as well as conducting “vigorous diplomatic outreach” with partners in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world to facilitate an international response.
“The strong and unified message emerging from the United States has been essential in our view to encouraging other countries to join us in pressing for an immediate return to democracy,” he said.
The announcement comes just over a week after the U.S. formally declared the takeover a military coup d’etat, a legal assessment that triggers a review of non-humanitarian assistance to the country.
