Biden announces sanctions against military leaders of Myanmar

US President Joe Biden has anunced a series of sanctions on military leers of Myanmar in response to ir recent action to overthrow a democratically elected leership in a coup. "Today I'm anuncing 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 told reporters at White House on Wednesday.

Biden said he has approved a new executive order enabling US to immediately sanction military leers who directed coup, ir business interests, as well as close family members. "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," Biden said.

As protests grow, violence against those asserting ir democratic rights is unacceptable, Biden said US is going to keep calling it out. “ people of Burma are making ir voices heard. And world is watching,” he said. In his first public dress on Myanmar, which US and several or western countries continue to call it by its previous name of Burma, Biden demanded that military must relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for will of people of Burma as expressed in ir vember 8th election.

Last week, United States helped bring toger UN Security Council, which issued a strong statement in support of Burmese democracy. This week, ministration will use its renewed engment on Human Rights Council to strengn world's commitment to human rights in Burma, he said.

"Today, I again call on Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leers and activists that y're w detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi. And also Win Myint, President,” he said.

Biden said that assault on Burma's transition to democracy remains an issue of deep bipartisan concern. “We've consulted at length, for example, with Senator McConnell, who's h a very keen interest in this, and his team. We welcomed ir helpful insights,” he said.

Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Biden's anuncement that his ministration will take concrete and targeted measures to demonstrate to Burmese military that ir actions are unacceptable. "As I've said before, re must be real consequences if Aung San Suu Kyi and rest of Burma's elected leers are t immediately freed and allowed to resume ir rightful place at he of a civilian government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ami Bera, Chairman of Asia, Pacific, Central Asia, and nproliferation Subcommittee, on Wednesday held a briefing on situation in Burma. "Members expressed concern for safety of those illegally detained by military and expressed support for ministration's commitment to review reimposition of sanctions, among or policy options, to hold Burmese military accountable for coup,” y said in a joint statement.

"We urge Burmese military to accept will of people and will continue to eng Biden ministration and likeminded partners and allies to support Burma’s progress toward democracy,” two top lawmakers said.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that as protests grow, Burma's military leers need to kw that violence against those who peacefully assert ir democratic rights will t be tolerated. United States will take te of those who stand with people of Burma at this moment of crisis, he asserted.

Price said US stands with people of Burma and support ir right to assemble peacefully, including ir right to protest peacefully in support of democratically elected government, right to freedom of expression, including freedom to seek, receive, and impart information both online and offline. “ fact that we continue to see se demonstrations throughout streets in Burma indicate where Burmese people are, what ir aspirations for democracy are. We will stand with m,” he said.