U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks during a press conference in Washington, U.S., March 10, 2022. Manuel Balce Ceneta/Pool via REUTERS
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WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday there could be no “business as usual” with Myanmar’s ruling military after the execution of four democracy activists, adding that all options were on the table after reviewing measures further to punish. junta
Speaking at a regular press conference, US State Department spokesman Ned Price called on countries to stop selling military equipment to Myanmar and refrain from any action that would give the junta any international credibility.
Asked if the Biden administration was considering sanctions on Myanmar’s gas industry, a sector that had been spared in previous rounds of US sanctions, Price said that in their discussions about further measures, all options were on the table.
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“With these terrible atrocities that the junta has committed, it cannot be business as usual with this regime,” Price said.
Sentenced to death in secret trials in January and April, the four activists were accused of aiding a civil resistance movement that has fought the military since last year’s coup and bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.
The country’s first executions in decades sparked an international outcry. Read more
No country has the potential to influence Myanmar’s trajectory more than China, Price said, while also calling on the regional grouping of ASEAN countries to uphold the precedent of banning junta representatives from regional meetings.
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Reporting by Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk and Kaniskha Singh Editing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy
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