The Burma Military Regime’s Extension of State of Emergency PRESS STATEMENT NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON FEBRUARY 1, 2023 The United States strongly opposes the Burma military regime’s decision to extend the state of emergency, prolonging the military’s illegitimate rule and the suffering it inflicts upon the country. As we enter the third year since the …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Counselor Derek Chollet met today in New York with Burmese UN Permanent Representative Kyaw Moe Tun. He also met with representatives of Burma’s NUG. They highlighted the importance of a swift return to democracy and rule of law in Burma, as well as respect for human rights …

Statement from U.S. Ambassador Thomas L. Vajda PRESS STATEMENT U.S. AMBASSADOR THOMAS L. VAJDA AUGUST 13, 2021 On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, I extend sincerest condolences for the lives of the Myanmar people who have been lost to the pandemic. The current surge of COVID-19 infections has taken a cruel toll on families and …

Trade enforcement Gina M. Raimondo FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 2, 2021 Office of Public Affairs publicaffairs@doc.gov The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has added four entities to the Entity List in its latest action in response to the February 1, 2021 military coup in Burma: King Royal Technologies Co., Ltd., a telecommunications company that provides satellite communications …

July 2, 2021 WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 22 individuals connected to Burma’s military regime. Among the individuals sanctioned today are seven key members of Burma’s military, which continues to repress the pro-democracy movement in the country and use lethal force against the people …

In response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Assets Control is designating today 22 individuals connected to the regime, pursuant to Executive Order 14014 “Blocking Property With Respect to the …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 21, 2021 The Burmese military regime continues to ignore the will of the people of Burma to restore the country’s path to democracy. Instead of acceding to the clear aspirations of its citizens, the regime has intensified its violent crackdown, killing more than 650 people, including …

April 9, 2021 Two months ago, on February 9, Mya Thwe Thwe Khine was shot while taking cover under a bus shelter during a protest in Naypyidaw. She was 19. Since then, over 600 civilians have been killed in Myanmar, many of them while protesting for hard-won democratic rights and freedoms. Children were murdered. Thousands …

April 8, 2021 WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE), a Burmese state-owned entity that is responsible for all gemstone activities in Burma. Gemstones are a key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that is violently repressing pro-democracy protests in the …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 8, 2021 The Burmese military regime has ignored the will of the people of Burma to restore the country’s path toward democracy and has continued to commit lethal attacks against protesters in addition to random attacks on bystanders.  This includes security forces’ brutal actions on March …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 8, 2021 On behalf of the United States of America, I extend best wishes and heartfelt concern to the people of Burma for Burma’s New Year, Thingyan. Thingyan is a time of rebirth and renewal. At this time of crisis, the United States sincerely hopes the …

The following is a joint statement of the Chiefs of Defense of Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed …

March 27, 2021 On Myanmar’s Armed Forces Day, security forces are murdering unarmed civilians, including children, the very people they swore to protect. This bloodshed is horrifying. These are not the actions of a professional military or police force. Myanmar’s people have spoken clearly: they do not want to live under military rule. We call for an immediate end to the violence …

March 25, 2021 WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two military holding companies, Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC).  The Burmese military controls significant segments of the country’s economy through these holding firms, which enjoy a privileged position …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE March 25, 2021 Members of the Burmese military have taken increasingly disturbing actions aimed at their own citizens since February 1.  In response to the military’s refusal to disavow the coup and continuing violence against peaceful protestors, today the United States is taking its most significant action …

United States Targets Burmese Military Forces for Repression of Pro-Democracy Protests   March 22, 2021 WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two individuals and two entities connected to the Burmese military and its violent repression of pro-democracy protests. Treasury took these actions in response to …

March 19, 2021 The brutal violence ​against unarmed civilians by the security forces in Hlaing Tharyar and elsewhere in Myanmar, often under the cover of darkness, is immoral and indefensible. We call on Myanmar’s military to cease all violence against people of Myanmar, release all detainees, lift martial law and the nationwide state of emergency, …

MARCH 12, 2021 1. We have convened to reaffirm our commitment to quadrilateral cooperation between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. We bring diverse perspectives and are united in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific. We strive for a region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion. We recall that …

PRESS RELEASE March 10, 2021 WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the two adult children of the commander-in-chief of the Burmese military forces, Min Aung Hlaing, who is the leading actor in the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government, as well as six companies of his …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE MARCH 10, 2021 For the past five weeks, the people of Burma have taken to the streets to protest peacefully and voice their aspirations for a return to democracy and the rule of law.  In response, Burmese security forces – at the behest of military leaders – …

Ambassador Thomas Vajda spoke to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Vice Senior General Soe Win on March 5 to urge the immediate cessation of all violence against demonstrators, which has already left at least 49 people dead.

PRESS RELEASE February 22, 2021 WASHINGTON, DC Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two individuals connected to the military apparatus responsible for the coup in Burma.  Treasury took these actions in response to the Burmese security forces’ killing of peaceful protestors, and Treasury imposed the sanctions under …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FEBRUARY 23, 2021 The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union. Begin Text: We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE FEBRUARY 22, 2021 The United States stands in solidarity with the people of Burma who came out across the country with courage and determination today to reject the military coup and voice their aspirations for a return to democratic governance, peace, and rule of law.  We condemn …

Statement by USAID Acting Administrator Gloria Steele For Immediate Release Thursday, February 11, 2021 Office of Press Relations press@usaid.gov USAID has stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Burma for decades in their struggle for peace, democracy, and freedom. They deserve nothing less. President Biden has described the Burmese military’s February 1, 2021 coup as …

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON READOUT October 27, 2020 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus: Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale spoke today with Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to reaffirm American support for democratic reforms and humanitarian relief efforts in Burma and a credible, transparent, and inclusive national …

U.S. Delegation to Visit Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar  DFC CEO to lead delegation to the Indo-Pacific FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2020 WASHINGTON – A U.S. government delegation led by U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Executive Officer Adam Boehler will travel to Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar from October 23 through October 27 to advance economic growth …

U.S. Condemns Attack on UN in Rakhine State PRESS STATEMENT MORGAN ORTAGUS, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON APRIL 22, 2020 The United States condemns the April 20 attack on a clearly-marked UN vehicle in Rakhine State, which resulted in the death of one World Health Organization (WHO) employee and the wounding of a health worker.  We understand these Burmese …

Remarks as prepared for Ambassador Scot Marciel at the launch of the USAID Lincoln Scholarship Program, Novotel Hotel, November 26, 2019 Having been in Myanmar for three and a half years, I have met hundreds of inspiring people around the country, each one working hard to build a better future for their communities and country.  …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 26, 2019 Ambassador Announces Lincoln Scholarships for Master’s Degrees in U.S.A. Yangon – Nearly 100 Myanmar young leaders from around the country will receive a high quality graduate education at U.S. universities through the new Lincoln Scholarship program announced U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel today. “The United States wants to see Myanmar succeed.  That’s …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2, 2019 The United States is deeply concerned about the harm to civilians of the ongoing conflict in Rakhine and Chin States between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military.  We call on all parties to renew their efforts to end the fighting and work toward a peaceful resolution of the …