KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The United States (US) will continue to pressure Myanmar’s regime until it ceases violence on its people and puts the country back on the democratic path.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said he was confident that the US and other partners would continue to take steps to increase pressure on the regime, as the situation in Myanmar worsen.
“What has happened in Myanmar over the past two years has been an absolute travesty. The coup d’état carried out by the junta, the brutal and horrific violence that the junta has carried out against its own people is absolutely unacceptable.
“And so what the US has intended to do since the coup, together with partners, including those in Asean, we have tried to increase via various means pressure upon the junta to try to compel it to cease the violence and to return to a democratic path,” he said in a telephonic press briefing with media in the Southeast Asia region on Thursday.
Kritenbrink also reiterated US strong support for Asean’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC) to initiate peace process in Myanmar.
“We strongly support efforts by Asean and others to make the Five-Point Consensus real,” he said.
Drawn and agreed by Asean leaders and junta chief senior general Min Aung Hlaing in April 2021, the plan has essentially called for the immediate end of violence on the people of Myanmar and to engage all parties concern in constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis.
On Tuesday, the US and European Union imposed new sanctions against Myanmar’s junta that aimed at the country’s officials, individuals and companies.
The US Treasury blacklisted Sky Aviator Co. for performing upgrades and maintenance for junta aircraft, as well as the company’s founder, Kyaw Min Oo, a 40-year-old Myanmar businessman who is accused of facilitating arms and weapons deals for the military.
In a coordinated move, the EU also sanctioned 19 individuals, including ministers, the Supreme Court’s chief justice, members of the armed forces, the air force and unnamed business representatives. The State Administration Council was also blacklisted.
— Bernama
