Joe Biden led American administration faces their firstinternational crisis as the military has ceded power in Myanmar.
Myanmar, also known as Burma was controlled by militaryuntil 2011. The de-facto leader, Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, President andleaders of various states have been detained by military again in the wee hourson Monday.
After the arrests, the military TV confirmed a state ofemergency. The military TV declared emergency for one year.
India has expressed its deep concerns after the militarytook over Myanmar. Similarly, the US officials have asked for the release ofAung San Suu Kyi and other leaders. Although, Suu Kyi is popular in Myanmar,her support base in divided because many people also support rule of the Army.
Biden led America is expected to put sanctions, cut aidand pressurize the military in Myanmar. Biden had pledged to "stand up fordemocracy" on Monday. He has also cautioned to re-impose the sanctions rolledback during the Obama administration.
Joe Biden, the President of US in a statement said, “Thereversal of that progress will necessitate an immediate review of our sanctionlaws and authorities, followed by appropriate action.”
After over 700,000 Rohingyas were chased away fromMyanmar, the Trump administration had imposed such sanctions on four militarycommanders. It also included sanctions on one of the top commanders, Min AungHlaing. The Rohingyas wereprosecuted in Myanmar and human rightsorganizations termed it an "ethnic cleansing" move when they rushedto Bangladesh to save their lives.
Biden could, as per report published on Reuters website,declare national emergency level sanctions under the International EmergencyEconomic Powers Act (IEEPA) due to the developments in Myanmar, also known asBurma. However, some business persons would like to keep their economic tiesopen with the country and they perhaps oppose such sanctions.
Most of the Myanmar's generals are already sanctionedunder Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act but as per reports, theprevious sanctions were not effective because it left them unscathed while thelarger population was impoverished.
The groups such a Human Rights Watch have asked Bidenadministration to levy sanctions on companies such as Myanmar Economic HoldingsLimited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corp (MEC), run by the military. Accordingto reports, sanctions under Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Actwere not imposed in 2018 o these companies after the Rohingyas were persecutedin Myanmar.
The US administration could impose sanctions such astravel ban and suspension of business with Myanmar officials. According toReuters, the US has still not called the events in Myanmar a coup but have openlydenounced it. The State Department spokesperson said America is still analysingthe facts before making any assessment but events in Myanmar "have themakings of a coup."