The Stateless Rohingya Blog

By Reuters May 15, 2014 WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama extended some economic sanctions against Myanmar for another year on Thursday, telling Congress the step is needed despite some progress on reforms made by the country formerly known as Burma. Obama notified leaders of Congress in a letter that he was renewing for another year the National Emergencies Act, which prohibits U.S. businesses and individuals from investing in Myanmar or doing business with Myanmar figures involved in repression of the democracy movement since the mid-1990s. Obama, who visited Myanmar in 2012, said the Myanmar government had made much advances in critical areas such as the release of more than 1,100 political prisoners, progress toward a nationwide ceasefire, the legalization of unions and taking steps to improve the country’s labour standards. However, he said, “Despite great strides that Burma has made in its reform effort, the situation in the country continues to pose an...

By  SHIBANI MAHTANI European Union foreign ministers were expected permanently to end sanctions against Myanmar on Monday, recognizing the country's transition from military dictatorship to a civilian rule that has released thousands of political prisoners, improved freedom of expression and made efforts to maintain peace with armed ethnic minority groups. Though the EU planned to leave an arms embargo in place for one more year, ending other sanctions would highlight strengthening international support for the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation, despite allegations from human-rights groups that authorities are failing to stem abuses against minorities, particularly Rohingya Muslims who have been driven from their homes by tens of thousands of extremists from the Buddhist majority. EU ministers were expected unanimously to endorse the removal of sanctions late Monday at a meeting in Luxembourg. The arms embargo would be reviewed after another year. Ambassadors from EU ...

By Patrick Barta YANGON—Intolerance toward Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar has dented some Americans’ perceptions of the country, but hasn’t significantly altered Washington’s views on easing sanctions, the U.S.’s new ambassador in Yangon said.