WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in addition to Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), today released the below statement on the second anniversary of the coup in Burma:
“Two years since the Burmese military overthrew the country’s democratically elected government in a brutal coup d’etat, we remember those who have lost their lives to its violent repression. Today, we reiterate our vehement condemnation of the Tatmadaw’s merciless killing and torture of the people of Burma, including the executions of pro-democracy activists and decades of atrocities against ethnic minorities like the Rohingya, and speak with one voice in calling for the regime to immediately release all political prisoners, including President Win Myint and State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi.
“While the Tatmadaw plans to hold sham elections later this year, this path will never lead to legitimacy in the eyes of the Burmese people or the broader international community. This is made clear by ASEAN members’ efforts to hold the Tatmadaw to the 5 Point Consensus and steps by United Nations members states to deny legitimacy to the coup leaders. In addition, Congress’ passage of the Burma Act will provide the Burmese people with humanitarian aid and impose diplomatic and economic costs on those supporting the illegitimate regime. In this vein, we encourage the Administration to continue sanctioning coup leaders and their related businesses as a demonstration of solidarity with the Burmese people as they struggle for the return of democracy, respect for human rights, and civilian control of government.”
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