ICC NOTE: Like many other countries deemed either dangerous to the U.S. or dangerous the indigenous people, the government has placed many sweeping economic sanctions against them. Myanmar is no different even after the democratic victory back in November of 2015. While the transition continues for Aung San Suu Kyi’s administration, military power remains strong and many of the corrupt and powerful businessmen remain as well. These are the individuals who experience the brunt of U.S. sanctions but they are also the people who have a stranglehold on the nations economy. Until Myanmar deals with its poor human rights record among the ethnic Christian populations and the minority Muslim Rohingya, sanctions will likely remain. 

5/11/2016 Burma (Wall Street Journal) – Washington isn’t ready to fully shed sanctions on Myanmar, instead awaiting progress on issues including human rights as the government run by Aung San Suu Kyi takes charge, the U.S. ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation indicated.

The Obama administration must make an annual ruling on whether to continue sanctions when the underlying legal basis for the program expires next week.

Ambassador Scot Marciel told a forum Tuesday that he “cannot yet say what the outcome of that review will be,” but that the goal of sanctions is to support change and “equitable economic development.” Any restrictions having a broader impact on overall economic growth and trade will be reassessed, he said.

U.S. sanctions began almost three decades ago with the goal of forcing a harsh military regime to loosen its hold on power. They were slowly eased starting in 2012 under the previous government led by former generals, but some remain against approximately 150 prominent businessmen considered cronies of the previous junta and their companies, or covering specific sectors such as jade.

A continuation of Myanmar’s democratic transition and improved human rights would “make it easier for people to look more positively on sanctions,” Mr. Marciel added.

American businesses say the sanctions hurt them in competition against companies whose countries have dropped sanctions, since Myanmar’s economy is dominated by individuals on the U.S. blacklist.

The U.S. considers Myanmar’s evolution to democracy incomplete, because even after Ms. Suu Kyi’s crushing election victory last November the military retains wide political powers. Her party has said previously that it won’t push for a full overhaul of sanctions and believes they must be assessed case by case.

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