WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday there could be no “business as usual” with Myanmar’s ruling army after the execution of four pro-democracy activists, adding that all options were on the table as they considered new measures to punish the board.
At a regular press conference, US State Department spokesman Ned Price called on countries to ban the sale of military equipment to Myanmar and refrain from any action that would give the junta international credibility.
Asked whether the Biden administration was considering sanctions on Myanmar’s gas industry, a sector that was spared in previous rounds of US sanctions, Price said that in their discussions about new measures, all options were on the table.
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“With these horrific atrocities carried out by the board, it cannot be business as usual with this regime,” Price said.
Sentenced to death in secret trials in January and April, the four activists were accused of aiding a civilian resistance movement that has fought the army since last year’s coup and bloody crackdown on protests across the country.
The country’s first executions in decades sparked an international outcry. Read more
No country has the potential to influence Myanmar’s trajectory more than China, Price said, while calling on the regional grouping of ASEAN countries to uphold the precedent of excluding representatives from the board of regional meetings.
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Reporting by Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk and Kaniskha Singh Editing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy
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