The United States took its commitment to the peaceful restoration of Burma’s path to democracy to the world stage.
Speaking before the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Biden delivered the message that democracy is everywhere. “It lives in the anti-corruption activists, the human rights defenders, the journalists, the peace protestors on the frontlines of this struggle in Belarus, Burma, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, and everywhere in between.”
In meetings with international partners September 23 at the General Assembly in New York, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior U.S. officials underscored the urgent need to press Burma’s military regime to end its violent rule.
State Department Counselor Derek Chollet met September 23 with Burmese Permanent U.N. Representative Kyaw Moe Tun and representatives of Burma’s pro-democracy NUG to discuss the need for rule of law and respect for human rights in Burma. They also discussed strengthening support for the people of Burma’s fight against COVID-19.
.@StateDept Counselor Derek Chollet met today in New York with Burmese UN Permanent Representative @KyawTun62907405. He also met with representatives of @NUGMyanmar. They highlighted the importance of a swift return to democracy and rule of law in Burma. https://t.co/TNnnbbEBlJ pic.twitter.com/TNPNqg4ykC
— U.S. Embassy Burma (@USEmbassyBurma) September 23, 2021
The State Department said that during the meeting Chollet “reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for all those working toward the peaceful restoration of Burma’s path to democracy.”
“The military junta must immediately stop the violence, release all those unjustly detained” and restore Burma’s path to democracy, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a September 22 statement.
The United States has sanctioned military leaders and others responsible for overthrowing Burma’s elected government on February 1. The military regime’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters has killed more than 1,100 people, including many children. The regime has also detained more than 6,000 people, drawing international condemnation.
At the United Nations, Blinken and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) discussed the need to press Burma’s military to adhere to ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus Plan for returning Burma to the path to democracy.
