The United States has decided to recall its diplomats in Burma.
After announcing in recent days a round of sanctions against Burma where the generals since their coup are continuing the murderous repression to try to put an end to the demonstrations in favor of the restoration of democracy, the United States fears for the safety of their staff.
The State Department said in a statement that after "authorizing the voluntary departure of US government employees and their families" in February, it is now ordering their departure.
"The safety of US government personnel and their dependents, as well as that of US citizens, is the department's highest priority," the ministry said.
However, the United States Embassy in Burma will still remain open to the public and "will continue to provide limited consular services," added the United States.
READ ALSO>
Coup d'Etat in Burma: American and European, diplomacy speaks in a vacuum
In the past two months since the coup to overthrow President Aung San Suu Kyi, more than 520 people, including many students and teenagers, have been killed, according to the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (AAPP) , during demonstrations and strikes to demand the restoration of democracy.
On Monday, the British Foreign Office had also advised its nationals in Burma to leave as soon as possible, following "a significant increase in the level of recent violence".
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
In an attempt to bend the junta to power, the United States announced sanctions by freezing the assets held in the United States of several leaders who overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
However, this action seems limited.
According to specialists in the region, the main financial assets of these leaders are placed outside Western countries.
UN Security Council Meeting
The UN Security Council is meeting on Wednesday urgently to try, despite its divisions, to provide a response to the crisis.
The fifteen members of the Council will meet behind closed doors, at the request of London.
They must imperatively decide to "cut the financial means of the junta (...) and return those responsible for the atrocities to the International Criminal Court", tweeted Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on Burma.
On Wednesday the UN Security Council should vote to cut the junta's access to funds and weapons and refer their atrocities to the ICC.
Myanmar people are not deterred by junta violence.
Nations should not be deterred by threats of a UNSC veto.
Stand up and be counted.
#forceavote pic.twitter.com/V7OjELuPzZ
- UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews (@R RapporteurUn) March 29, 2021
But the United Nations is divided.
China and Russia refused to officially condemn the February 1 putsch against Aung San Suu Kyi, Moscow even wishing to strengthen its military cooperation with the new regime ...