From US to New Zealand, here's how countries reacted to Myanmar's political situation

Governments all across world are curbing diplomatic ties with Myanmar and increasing economic pressure on its military due to coup that took place last week. Myanmar was engulfed in chaos early on February 1 as its military took over power announcing a one-year state of emergency with reports stating that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and or government leers have been detained. World leers like Joe Biden, Jacinda Ardern, Boris Johnson, expressed ir concern over situation in Myanmar. 

Nations react to Myanmar coup 

US President Joe Biden announced a series of sanctions on military leers of Myanmar. Speaking to reporters at White House, Biden said, “Today I'm announcing a series of actions that we're taking to begin imposing consequences on leers of coup. US government is taking steps to prevent generals from improperly having access to USD1 billion in Burmese government funds held in United States”. Biden furr ded that he has approved a new executive which enables US to immediately sanction military leers who initiated coup. He said, “We will identify a first round of targets this week. We are also going to impose strong export controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit Burmese government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and or areas that benefit people of Burma directly”.

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US was one among many of those Western governments that lifted most of ir sanctions in order to encourage democratic transition. This was because Myanmar’s military rulers were taking grual steps toward civilian rule. se changes proved temporary with ousting of elected government and detentions of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and ors.

Anor strong reaction came from New Zealand. After nearly eight days of military taking power of Myanmar, New Zealand announced suspension of all “high-level military” and political contacts with Souast Asian nation. Marking first international move against Myanmar after coup, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took stringent decision of isolating country’s ruling junta. Unveiling measures, she also called for entire international community to “strongly condemn what we’re seeing happen in Myanmar”, according to Rio New Zealand. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Tuesday said, “We do not recognize legitimacy of military-led government and we call on military to immediately release all detained political leers and restore civilian rule”. 

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In Japan, lawmakers asked government in power to impose sanctions against military leers in Myanmar. In a letter dressed to government, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and opposition Constitutional Democratic Party me an appeal to work in collaboration with US and European Union (EU) to impose tre and economic embargo on Myanmar. letter also asked to halt all aids to country, barring humanitarian, according to Japan’s NHK news agency.

Indian Embassy in Yangon issued an visory to Indian citizens in Myanmar to avoid unnecessary travel and take due precautions. Air India flight on Yangon-New Delhi sector was also rescheduled following recent developments. This comes after Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is monitoring situation closely. "We have noted developments in Myanmar with deep concern. India has always been stefast in its support to process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that rule of law and democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring situation closely", ministry's statement re. 

On February 8, Britain and European Union requested that United Nations Human Rights Council hold a special session in response to ongoing political crisis in Myanmar. In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said European foreign ministers will meet on February 22 to review 27-nation bloc’s relations with Myanmar. Also, y will be looking for ways to increase economic pressure.

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(Image Credits: AP)