JAKARTA: The United States (US) will announce more sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta government and related entities in the near future, according to US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet.
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, he said the move would make it more difficult for Myanmar’s military junta to generate income to buy more weapons.
“We are committed to increasing pressure on Myanmar’s military junta to curb their ability to generate revenue, much of which is used to finance the war effort.
“Myanmar is now on its way to a failed country in the middle of Southeast Asia,” he said, who also informed that the US has so far blocked 80 individuals and more than 30 entities in Myanmar.
The internal conflict in Myanmar and its effects, leading to a military coup in 2021, will be the main focus of Chollet during his visit to the ASEAN region this week.
His visit on March 20 to 24 to Indonesia and Thailand is the latest in a series of high-level visits by US officials to the region, especially to Jakarta, which has been ASEAN chairman for almost four months.
Lastly, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Daniel Kritenbrink, visited Jakarta on March 8 and 9.
In an interview, Mr. Chollet, as a Counselor at the State Department, told The Straits Times newspaper that he would consult with Indonesia on various matters related to ASEAN, especially on the situation in Myanmar.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that 17.6 million Myanmar people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
More than 1.6 million people have been displaced, and an estimated 55,000 public buildings have been destroyed since the military coup on February 21, 2021.
Over 2,000 lay people were killed. It is also estimated that around 16,000 political prisoners were imprisoned.
The US State Department, when announcing Chollet’s visit last Sunday in Washington, said he would ‘reaffirm US commitment to ASEAN, a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and support for the security and well-being of US friends’.
In Bangkok, Chollet held a meeting with Thai officials to express US commitment to US-Thailand relations.
Also discussed, methods of strengthening bilateral cooperation on various issues, including the expansion of cooperation in the fields of health and climate, as well as dealing with the crisis in Myanmar, according to the US State Department.
When asked to explain about Myanmar, Chollet said: “I see that there is no end, in fact the situation there is getting worse and I think something should be done immediately.
“I think we are seeing as if the junta is running out of steam and its military is under pressure.
“Therefore, it now uses air power – and often abuses that power, as a result of which more and more civilians suffer.
“The US together with its regional partners have been trying for several years to continue to punish and get rid of this military junta,” he said.
Chollet described the situation in Myanmar as a big challenge for ASEAN at the moment, a crisis that could hinder what ASEAN is trying to achieve.
“ASEAN knows better than us. But we want to play our part, work with ASEAN to try to improve the situation… and resolve it, but it’s not easy.
“However, we really appreciate what the ASEAN bloc has done so far,” he said.
He added that Indonesia took several important steps with the establishment of a special representative office last January to coordinate ASEAN policy for Myanmar, under the supervision of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
Source: Berita Harian