US Counselor Derek H. Chollet has said they will continue increasing pressure on the Myanmar military and not allowing it to gain legitimacy, noting that they have stepped up economic and political pressure on the regime.
He said they will continue supporting the pro-democracy movement and providing humanitarian support, all in coordination with their allies and partners in the region and beyond.
"The people of Burma have suffered under the military’s tyranny for far too long, and they deserve our full support," said the US Counselor who is an Under Secretary-level principal officer.
In a telephonic press briefing, he said they very much welcome the passage here in the United States Congress of the BURMA Act, which is a bipartisan piece of legislation reflecting the United States commitment to support the people of Myanmar.
"We are committed to working with the United States Congress to impose severe consequences for the regime’s atrocities, to support the pro-democracy movement, and to provide critical humanitarian assistance," he mentioned.
Chollet is likely to visit Bangladesh on February 14-15 and will visit the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.
The Counselor conducts special international negotiations and consultations, and also undertakes special assignments from time to time, as directed by the Secretary.
"We have done what we can and are committed to do more to help the National Unity Government and other pro-democracy actors gain capability and effectiveness," he said.
The Counselor met multiple times, along with his colleagues in Washington, with senior leaders from the National Unity Government, and they regularly engage with them in person and by video, and also engage with other pro-democracy leaders and are working to provide them support.
"Our overarching goal in Myanmar remains to foster conditions that end the current crisis but, more importantly, return Burma to the path of inclusive, representative, multiparty democracy," he said.
"And we have to be prepared for the year ahead. Any election that the regime might have – and I know that they extended their state of emergency today – but any election that they might have will have no chance of being free or fair given that the regime has imprisoned or intimidated nearly all credible potential contenders and indeed does not control nearly 50 percent of Burma’s territory," the Counselor said.
Source: United News of Bangladesh