What is happening in Myanmar and what the Biden government is trying to do about it

“Their instincts are good,” the Kentucky Republican told Politico on Monday after Biden apparently consulted with the minority leader about the situation in Myanmar, which CNN dealt with on the spot. The Biden government has called on the country’s army to end its fight against peaceful protests and has imposed at least two rounds of sanctions. “Our ability to influence it halfway around the world is limited,” McConnell said.

The policy on Myanmar has long been an agreement between Republicans and Democrats, united in condemning the military rule that brutally oppressed the country until 2011, united in praise for its gradual opening to democracy and reunited in condemnation of the coup launched in February. 1.

People in Myanmar have been protesting across the country since the army took control on February 1 after refusing to accept the result of a national election that gave the National League for Democracy 83% of the seats in parliament.

The military has declared a state of emergency and security forces, made up of police, soldiers and elite insurgent troops, have since reacted brutally to peaceful anti-coup demonstrations and general strikes on April 12, killing more than 700 people, including children. . The military has introduced curfews, restricted events and restricted Internet access. The ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other members of the National League for Democracy have been detained and are being tried in secret court.

The army has repeatedly blamed the violence of protesters, saying security forces use ‘minimum force’. Military spokesman-general Zaw Min Tun said in a recent CNN interview that junta forces had been cut off because ‘the crowd was blocking sandbags, shooting with handmade rifles, throwing fire, throwing Molotov, and the security forces must weapons for the riot. ‘

What is the US doing?

The Biden administration, along with the European Union, announced sanctions in March and named military officials and other entities in Myanmar responsible for the violence. On March 30, the U.S. State Department ordered all non-emergency service workers and their family members out of the country after they were voluntarily allowed to leave in February.

On April 8, the State Department followed up and announced sanctions against the state-run Myanma Gems Enterprise, a major economic resource for the military regime led mainly by former military leaders. Myanmar is a major source of rubies, sapphires and other gems in the world. The trade is estimated to be worth $ 31 billion in 2014 and Myanma Gems Enterprise oversees most of the industry and reimburses royalties.

“The Burmese military regime has ignored the will of the people of Burma to restore the country’s path to democracy and has continued to carry out deadly attacks on protesters, in addition to random attacks on bystanders,” said Foreign Minister Tony Blinken, said in a statement describing the security force’s “brutal actions” that left hundreds dead.

Why has it not changed anything?

The European Union’s head of foreign policy said on Sunday that China and Russia were blocking UN Security Council efforts to impose an arms embargo and trying to create a common ground. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday reiterated his deep concern over the violence, calling it “appalling” and urging the Security Council to use its influence on Myanmar’s military leaders to resolve the issue.

How did the Trump administration handle Myanmar?

The Trump White House has sought to hold Myanmar responsible for violence against Rohingya Muslims in the country, while its response has been calibrated to avoid a setback in democratic progress there and to try to compete against Chinese influence in the country.

Has Myanmar always been a democracy?

No. The country gained independence from Britain in 1948. The army took control in 1962. In 2011, the military began allowing a slow return to civilian government, which was cut short by the February coup.

Where is Myanmar?

Myanmar, which Washington calls Burma, is in Southeast Asia. It shares borders with China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. Its population of about 54 million includes many ethnic groups, including Rohingya Muslims, but the most important religion is Buddhism. Burmese is the main language.

Why do people use two different names to refer to Myanmar?

When the army took possession of the country in 1962, it called it Burma. In 1989, the name was changed to Myanmar – a more formal version of the country’s name, meaning fast and strong people. Many countries continued to use ‘Burma’ to reflect their sense that the military regime was not legal. In 2011, the military allowed a slow return to civilian rule, and the use of Myanmar became increasingly common.

Who’s Aung San Suu Kyi?

Suu Kyi is the daughter of the general who led Burma to independence, Gen. Aung San, and spent more than 15 years under house arrest to protest the army’s control of the country. Her time in detention made her an international icon and won her the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. She was released from house arrest in 2010 and became a state councilor in 2016, but her reputation was severely damaged by her cooperation with the military and her defense. of the campaign against Rohingya Muslims. Biden’s government is investigating whether Myanmar’s persecution of the Rohingya amounts to genocide.

CNN’s Julia Hollingsworth, Akanksha Sharma and CNN stringers in Myanmar contributed to this report.

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