Joe Biden led American administration faces their first international crisis as the military has ceded power in Myanmar.
Myanmar, also known as Burma was controlled by military until 2011. The de-facto leader, Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, President and leaders of various states have been detained by military again in the wee hours on Monday.
After the arrests, the military TV confirmed a state of emergency. The military TV declared emergency for one year.
India has expressed its deep concerns after the military took over Myanmar. Similarly, the US officials have asked for the release of Aung 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 aid and pressurize the military in Myanmar. Biden had pledged to "stand up for democracy" on Monday. He has also cautioned to re-impose the sanctions rolled back during the Obama administration.
Joe Biden, the President of US in a statement said, “The reversal of that progress will necessitate an immediate review of our sanction laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action.”
After over 700,000 Rohingyas were chased away from Myanmar, the Trump administration had imposed such sanctions on four military commanders. It also included sanctions on one of the top commanders, Min Aung Hlaing. The Rohingyas were prosecuted in Myanmar and human rights organizations termed it an "ethnic cleansing" move when they rushed to Bangladesh to save their lives.
Biden could, as per report published on Reuters website, declare national emergency level sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) due to the developments in Myanmar, also known as Burma. However, some business persons would like to keep their economic ties open with the country and they perhaps oppose such sanctions.
Most of the Myanmar's generals are already sanctioned under Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act but as per reports, the previous sanctions were not effective because it left them unscathed while the larger population was impoverished.
The groups such a Human Rights Watch have asked Biden administration to levy sanctions on companies such as Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corp (MEC), run by the military. According to reports, sanctions under Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act were not imposed in 2018 o these companies after the Rohingyas were persecuted in Myanmar.
The US administration could impose sanctions such as
travel ban and suspension of business with Myanmar officials. According to
Reuters, the US has still not called the events in Myanmar a coup but have openly
denounced it. The State Department spokesperson said America is still analysing
the facts before making any assessment but events in Myanmar "have the
makings of a coup."
Read More:India deeply concerned about military coup in Myanmar