Press Release

Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced sanctions on two military holding companies, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC).

"I commend the Biden Administration for today's sanctions targeting two military holding companies that provide valuable economic resources to the Burmese military.

The Burmese people have made their wishes clear through the November 2020 general elections, and now through peaceful protest. Instead of respecting the will of the people, the Tatmadaw upended the country's democratic progress with a coup and has crackdown on demonstrators with lethal force, resulting in over 140 deaths. This level of brutality is unacceptable. With today's sanctions, the United States once again reaffirms its strong commitment to the people of Burma in their pursuit for democracy.

I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the arbitrarily detained elected officials as well as those who have been arrested or sentenced for protesting the military dictatorship. I have had the opportunity to speak with several key partners in the region over the past weeks, and I will continue to work with ASEAN and other likeminded allies to restore democracy to Burma."