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- After the military coup in Burma, the United States is imposing punitive measures against top generals.
- This was announced by President Joe Biden in Washington.
- The sanctions are also intended to be directed against relatives of the generals and against companies associated with the army.
The first concrete targets of the sanctions would be announced this week, Biden said at the White House. In addition, the United States wants to introduce strong export controls and prepare new sanctions. The regime is also denied access to around one billion US dollars (about 800 million euros) found in the United States.
Biden called for an immediate return to democracy and the release of all arrested politicians and activists. Fundamental democratic rights must be guaranteed. “The world is watching,” said the president of the United States.
“We will be ready to impose additional measures and we will continue to work with our international partners to urge other countries to follow us in these efforts.”
Another great demonstration
On Wednesday, tens of thousands of people demonstrated again in Burma against the coup plotters’ seizure of power. Protest marches broke out in cities like Mandalay and Rangoon, just a day after security forces cracked down. There were many injuries and hundreds of arrests.
Legend:
Demonstrations for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi are also taking place in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Keystone
Since Monday night, curfews between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. and a ban on gatherings have been in effect in areas heavily affected by the protests. In the past, the military had always brutally suppressed any resistance.
Under former President Barack Obama, who was once Biden’s boss, the United States lifted sanctions against Burma beginning in 2012. The previous year, after decades of military dictatorship, generals had allowed the country to open up and spread. democratize cautiously.
Legend:
Under then-President of the United States, Barack Obama, sanctions against Burma were lifted in 2012.
Keystone / Files
The Burmese army returned to power last week. Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party had clearly won the November general elections, and dozens of other politicians were arrested. The Nobel Peace Prize winner is said to have been under house arrest ever since, as was the case during the previous military dictatorship. In recent years he led a government in which the army also participated.
