WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee overseeing Human Rights and Democracy; Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), lead Democrat on the East Asia Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Ranking Member of the Subcommittee overseeing Human Rights and Democracy, released the following statement upon the announcement by the Biden administration of new sanctions against members of the Burmese military. Last week, the Senators urged the Biden administration take several key steps on human rights, targeted sanctions, and international coordination to help preserve Burma’s fragile democratic transition following a military coup on February 1^st against the democratically-elected, civilian-led government of Burma, also known as Myanmar.

“We applaud the Biden administration decision to impose targeted sanctions against Burma’s military leaders who directed the coup that removed the democratically elected, civilian-led government from power on February 1^st,” said the Senators. “We also appreciate the administration’s pledge to continue strong U.S. support for Burmese civil society and humanitarian efforts.

“We remain committed to continuing to work with the Biden administration to ensure that the U.S. and international response to the recent military coup is coordinated and targeted to have a strong impact on those responsible, while also encouraging a peaceful transition of power back to the civilian government. We stand in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters who have lined the streets throughout Burma and condemn any violence against them.”

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