Media Coverage
Source: Nikkei Asian Review
Media Coverage
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Olivia Thomas
10.27.17
The treatment of Rohingya refugees by Myanmar’s government is causing debates among donor countries and financial institutions about how to best handle the situation, reports Nikkei Asian Review. Since the country’s government has blocked aide groups from being able to reach those in needs, the publication reports that many organizations and governments are questioning the status of existing aid that has been sent to Myanmar and are considering placing sanctions against the Myanmar military.
Aaron Hutman, International Trade counsel in Pillsbury’s Washington, DC office, told Nikkei Asian Review that the U.S. government is struggling with helping the Rohingya while diplomatically putting pressure on the Myanmar military without obstructing the civilian government. According to Hutman, it is likely the U.S. will encourage allies like Canada and the European Union to join in targeted sanctions against military leaders.
“U.S. officials have laid out a list of responses and likely will proceed with a combination of sanctions designations for military leaders, visa bans, discouraging cooperation with the Myanmar military, and stepped-up humanitarian aid,” Hutman said. “State Department officials seem to be floating planned U.S. responses both to assure the public of its attention to a troubling human rights issue and to see if threats of sanctions impact the military's behavior.”
Read more about the debate surround Myanmar and the Rohingya in Nikkei Asian Review.