US announces Sanctions on Myanmar’s Military Leaders

The President of United States, Joe Biden, announced sanctions on the military leaders in Myanmar on February 10, 2021.

Key facts

• The sanctions were put by the Biden’s administration in order to prevent the Myanmar’s generals from accessing the $1 billion of government funds which is held in the US.
• The government would identify the first round of sanctions targets and impose the export controls.
• Biden also asked the Myanmar military to release detainees immediately.

Why Sanctions have been put?

The Biden administration has put the sanctions on military leaders in Myanmar in the backdrop of Military rule in Myanmar.

Military Rule in Myanmar

The military in Myanmar took over the control in the country and announced one-year state of emergency on February 1, 2021. The military also detained the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other government leaders. This step was taken by the military in the backdrop of victory of Suu Kyi’s party in election that was held in November 2020. The military took over the country as it found the victory a result of frauds.  Following that, the Myanmar Civil Disobedience Movement has been started in opposition to the military’s takeover.

How did military get the power?

The state emergency was announced after the Suu Kyi’s government was failed in tackling the situation of the country amid the Corona Pandemic. Despite that, the Suu Kyi’s party won the election again in November 2020. Thus, the military took over in the country in accordance with the Article 417 of the Myanmar’s constitution. This article gives power to the military to take over the country in times of emergency. The military had framed the constitution of Myanmar in 2008. Thus the military retains the power under the charter at the expense of democratic and the civilian rule.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2021