NAY PYI TAW: The extension of US sanctions on Myanmar will not hurt the country, said Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Foreign Minister, Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday (May 18).
Her first public remarks on the sanctions came at a joint news conference with visiting Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
The US announced on Tuesday that it will extend its sanctions on Myanmar for another year. Washington however eased the sanctions by removing some state-owned enterprises off the black list.
When Channel NewsAsia asked Aung San Suu Kyi for her response to the extension of sanctions by the US, she said: “The sanctions were imposed for a particular reason and these reasons will be removed in time.”
She added the sanctions “is not a big problem – and will not hurt us in any way; we have the strength and the means to overcome any obstacles that may be imposed at this time.”
Aung San Suu Kyi added that the US is a “good friend” and will remain as such with Myanmar.
Among the sanctions left in place are those on a number of individuals especially associated with the previous regime and businesses, including some gem miners.
Washington also said that Myanmar business tycoon Steven Law, whose late father Lo Hsing Han was a notorious heroin trafficker, remains blacklisted since 2008 along with companies in his huge Asia World business group.
One of the reasons cited for the US extending its sanctions on Myanmar is the continued violation on human rights and how minorities such as the Rohingyas have been segregated and treated.
Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingyas, saying they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Source: Channel NewsAsia
