Kuala Lumpur: US Secretary of State Antony blinken They say Biden The administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the country’s military leaders to restore the democratic path disrupted by a February coup.
Blinken said the situation in Myanmar had gotten “worse” in the 10 months since the coup, which has led to mass arrests and violence against protesters.
And he said the administration is “very actively” looking at the ongoing repression against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim population to designate it as a “genocide”.
“I think it will be very important in the coming weeks and months to see what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to put pressure on the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory,” Blinken said. For.”
Blinken made the remarks on Wednesday in Malaysia, where he is on the second leg of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia.
His Malaysian counterpart said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should also act, saying the regional grouping should do some “soul-searching” about its policy towards a member of Myanmar.
“The long and short of it is that we have to see what additional steps can be taken to move things in a better direction and it’s something like this,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference with the Malaysian foreign minister. What we’re seeing.” Saifuddin Abdullah,
Blinken was specifically asked about potential sanctions on Myanmar’s state-run oil and gas sector, but did not mention the possibility in his response.
He did, however, address the possibility of determining the massacre.
“We continue to look actively at what actions have been taken in Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide, and this is something that we are looking at very actively right now,” Blinken said. ”
He reiterated the demand for Myanmar’s regime to release all those who were “unjustly detained”, including the leader of the democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi, allow unhindered humanitarian access to areas in need of aid, end violence against protesters and restore Myanmar “on its democratic path.”
In response to the same question, Abdullah said that Malaysia believes that ASEAN should adopt a more consistent position when it comes to Myanmar.
The 10-nation group has long maintained a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its members and often opposes action against them.
“I understand that we celebrate the principles of non-intervention, but … ASEAN should also look at the principle of non-interference because what happens in Myanmar is already happening outside Myanmar,” he said. That said, noting that Malaysia is now hosting around 200,000 Rohingya refugees.
He expressed hope that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in January would be able to clarify the group’s position on Myanmar and clear demands and milestones to meet with the country’s military. Specific timeline to complete them.
Blinken said the situation in Myanmar had gotten “worse” in the 10 months since the coup, which has led to mass arrests and violence against protesters.
And he said the administration is “very actively” looking at the ongoing repression against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim population to designate it as a “genocide”.
“I think it will be very important in the coming weeks and months to see what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to put pressure on the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory,” Blinken said. For.”
Blinken made the remarks on Wednesday in Malaysia, where he is on the second leg of a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia.
His Malaysian counterpart said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should also act, saying the regional grouping should do some “soul-searching” about its policy towards a member of Myanmar.
“The long and short of it is that we have to see what additional steps can be taken to move things in a better direction and it’s something like this,” Blinken told reporters at a news conference with the Malaysian foreign minister. What we’re seeing.” Saifuddin Abdullah,
Blinken was specifically asked about potential sanctions on Myanmar’s state-run oil and gas sector, but did not mention the possibility in his response.
He did, however, address the possibility of determining the massacre.
“We continue to look actively at what actions have been taken in Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide, and this is something that we are looking at very actively right now,” Blinken said. ”
He reiterated the demand for Myanmar’s regime to release all those who were “unjustly detained”, including the leader of the democracy. Aung San Suu Kyi, allow unhindered humanitarian access to areas in need of aid, end violence against protesters and restore Myanmar “on its democratic path.”
In response to the same question, Abdullah said that Malaysia believes that ASEAN should adopt a more consistent position when it comes to Myanmar.
The 10-nation group has long maintained a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of its members and often opposes action against them.
“I understand that we celebrate the principles of non-intervention, but … ASEAN should also look at the principle of non-interference because what happens in Myanmar is already happening outside Myanmar,” he said. That said, noting that Malaysia is now hosting around 200,000 Rohingya refugees.
He expressed hope that the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in January would be able to clarify the group’s position on Myanmar and clear demands and milestones to meet with the country’s military. Specific timeline to complete them.
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