The Obama administration has extended targeted sanctions
already in place in Myanmar for another year, in an effort to maintain
pressure on the country’s officials to advance political reforms.
Concern over the failure of Myanmar officials to prevent violence
between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state and central Myanmar, as
well as reports of military abuses, prompted the US government to extend
sanctions, the Associated Press reported.
A State Department official said the continued sanctions allow the US
to "maintain the flexibility necessary to target specific bad actors
and prevent backsliding on reform,” according to BBC News.
Following the release of hundreds of political prisoners, including
democracy crusader Aung San Suu Kyi, the US resumed diplomatic relations
with Myanmar and suspended most trade and investment sanctions last
year.
The targeted sanctions that remain prevent Americans from doing
business with companies or individuals who "slow or thwart reform in
Burma, commit serious human rights abuses or propagate military trade
with North Korea,” the State Department official said, according to the
BBC.
But there’s some good news for Myanmar officials, too. To recognize
political reforms that have been achieved, the US announced it had eased
some visa restrictions imposed against Myanmar's former military regime.
Congressional staffers and a State Department official told the AP
that the Obama administration is working on arranging a visit by
Myanmar’s President Thein Sein to the White House this month. If that
happens, he’d be the first Burmese leader to visit since 1966.
source: Global Post
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