The countries issuing the statement -- the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and the United Kingdom -- already have embargoed arms sales to Myanmar, whose army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February. They also have instituted targeted diplomatic and economic sanctions meant to pressure the ruling generals behind the takeover. Beijing and Moscow are also the top suppliers of arms to Myanmar. Security forces used lethal force to put down the protests, killing almost 1,300 civilians, according to a tally kept by a political prisoner research organization. The repression led the military’s opponents to take up arms, and UN experts have said the country now risks sliding into civil war.

Source: The Nation November 27, 2021 00:55 UTC