US for democracy in Myanmar

The US will pressurise the Myanmar junta to support the pro-democracy movement in the civil-war-ridden Southeast Asian nation, hoping to see the return of democracy in a year.

"This is an effort that we will not waver from in the coming months, and we very much hope that a year from now, we will not have to commemorate the grim milestone of the third year after the coup. Rather, we hope to reflect on a moment in which Myanmar has returned to the path of democracy," said US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet.

Chollet, a senior policy advisor to the Secretary of State, said this during a telephone briefing on the second anniversary of Myanmar's military coup on Wednesday.

He will visit Bangladesh on February 14-15, visit the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar and is expected to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.

Diplomatic sources said the purpose of his visit is mainly to discuss the Rohingya crisis and humanitarian assistance. Bangladesh has been sheltering more than a million Rohingya refugees, most of who fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017.

The situation in Myanmar was aggravated when the military took control of the country through a coup on February 1, 2021. The elected civilian lawmakers of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy formed a shadow government -- National Unity Government (NUG). It also has its armed wing Peoples' Democratic Force (PDF). NUG and other ethnic rebel groups control about 80 percent of Myanmar's territory.

Last year, the US determined the Myanmar junta's atrocities against the Rohingya as genocide and to date has imposed sanctions against 80 individuals and 32 entities related to the Myanmar military.

The US is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance both in Myanmar and for the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, that amount to around $2 billion since 2017.

In December last year, the US Congress passed the Burma Act meant to impose severe consequences for the regime's atrocities, support the pro-democracy movement and provide critical humanitarian assistance.

Chollet said the US is committed to supporting the NUG and other pro-democracy actors to gain capability and effectiveness. It is already engaged with pro-democracy leaders in Myanmar, providing them with the necessary support.

"The US and its partners, including Australia, the UK and Canada, stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and will take action against those enabling the military regime," added Chollet.

He also said the US is deeply concerned about Russia's supply of military equipment to Myanmar's junta and will continue to seek ways to limit such cooperation between the two countries.

He said the US is coordinating closely with its allies and partners, including ASEAN and its members, as well as with the UN and other international organisations to hold the military regime in Myanmar accountable.

"Our overarching goal in Myanmar remains to foster conditions that end the current crisis but more importantly, return Burma to the path of inclusive, representative and multiparty democracy. And we have to be prepared for the year ahead," said Chollet.

He also mentioned that despite no shortage of important issues on the US foreign policy agenda, the US remains focused on the people of Myanmar and helping them back on the path towards democracy.