Myanmar faces possible sanctions as US declares Rohingya treatment is ‘ethnic cleansing’
Washington — The US condemned Myanmar’s treatment of its Rohingya Muslim population as "ethnic cleansing", a designation Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said could lead to "possible targeted sanctions". While Tillerson suggested any new sanctions would be narrowly focused, the US denunciation undercuts Myanmar’s international standing as it is beginning to recover from decades of economic isolation under its former military junta. The move could stem the flow of foreign investment into the country. "After a careful and thorough analysis of available facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya," Tillerson said on Wednesday. He said the US would work through the United Nations and also "pursue accountability through US law, including possible targeted sanctions". Tension in US relations with Myanmar may provide an opening to China, which is also seeking to resolve the crisis but seldom injects human rights concerns...
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