Biden imposes sanctions against Myanmar military leaders

 

US President Joe Biden has ordered new sanctions against the military regime in Myanmar, taking action after the military this month staged a coup in the country and arrested de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior politicians.

Biden said he was issuing an executive order that will prevent Myanmar's generals from accessing $1 billion in assets in the United States.

Biden added that more measures are to come.

“The military must relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma,” Biden said.

Biden said the new sanctions will allow his administration to freeze US assets that benefit Myanmar’s military leaders while maintaining support for health care programs, civil society groups and other areas that benefit the country's people.

He said the administration planned to identify specific targets of the sanctions later this week.