Myanmar junta chief urges financial action seeing that Western pressure grows
24 February, 2021
The first choice of Myanmar's junta has needed energetic efforts to regenerate an ailing economy, state media reported on Tuesday (Feb 23), as Western countries considered more sanctions to press the generals to shun a violent crackdown on democracy protests.
The call for focus on the economy came after a general strike shut businesses on Mon and big crowds gathered to denounce the military's Feb 1 coup and demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, despite a warning from authorities that confrontation could easily get people killed.
Opponents of the coup gathered again on Tuesday though found in much smaller amounts. There were also small marches towards the military, press reported.
There were no reports of violence.
Military chief Standard Min Aung Hlaing, on a meeting with his ruling council on Mon, called for express spending and imports to be cut and exports increased.
"The council must put its energy into reviving the country's ailing economy. Economic solution measures should be taken," state media quoted him as expressing.
The army seized power after alleging fraud in Nov 8 elections, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and far of the party leadership. The electoral commission dismissed the fraud problems.
The crisis raises the chance of isolation and investor jitters only as the coronavirus is undermining consumption and tourism.
Min Aung Hlaing didn't link the protests directly to monetary problems but said the authorities were following a democratic route in working with them and law enforcement were utilizing minimal force, such as for example rubber bullets, express media reported.
The security forces have displayed more restraint weighed against earlier crackdowns against persons who had pushed for democracy during almost half of a century of direct military rule.
However, three protesters have been killed - two shot dead in the next city of Mandalay in Saturday, and a female who died on Fri after being shot greater than a week before in the administrative centre, Naypyidaw.
The army has said one policeman died of injuries sustained during the protests.
The armed service has accused protesters of provoking violence but US Particular Rapporteur Tom Andrews said the millions who marched on Monday in a "breathtaking" turnout showed these were prepared to face up to military threats.
"The generals happen to be losing their power to intimidate and with it, their power. It really is past time for them to stand down, as the persons of Myanmar stand up," Andrews explained on Twitter.
The European Union said it was considering sanctions that could target businesses owned by the army, however the bloc ruled out any curtailing its trade preferences in order to avoid hurting poor workers.
"We are not ready to stand by watching," German Overseas Minister Heiko Maas explained in Brussels on Mon.
AMERICA imposed sanctions on two more members of the junta and warned it might take more action.
The administration of President Joe Biden has previously imposed sanctions on Myanmar's acting president and several military officers, and also three companies in the jade and gems sector.
Britain, Germany and Japan also have condemned the violence and UN Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres urged the army to stop repression.
Myanmar, which has previously been unswayed by sanctions, denounced what it called interference in its affairs.
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