us-sanctions 26 October 2017

US considering re-imposing sanctions on Myanmar

The US State Department said in a statement on 23 October that it had already responded to the crisis in Myanmar regarding the treatment of the country’s Rohingya population, and that it was considering further steps, including possible sanctions.

Press spokeswoman, Heather Nauert said that the government was gravely concerned by the ‘violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities had endured,’ and that state and non-state actors should be held accountable.

Steps taken thus far, she said, included having ‘ceased consideration of JADE Act travel waivers for current and former senior leadership of the Burmese military,’ and rescinding invitations for senior Burmese security forces to attend U.S.-sponsored events.’

Nauert also hinted at the possibility of further multilateral and unilateral measures, saying:

‘We are consulting with allies and partners on accountability options at the UN, the UN Human Rights Council, and other appropriate venues; and…exploring accountability mechanisms available under U.S. law, including Global Magnitsky targeted sanctions.’

Further information at:
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/10/275021.htm