The United States government is withdrawing all of its non-essential employees and their families from Myanmar.
The U.S. has taken that decision in connection with the unrest in the Southeast Asian country since the army coup in February. That reports the U.S. Department of State.
Mass protests and brutal police crackdown have been commonplace in Myanmar since the military deposed and arrested the elected head of government Aung San Suu Kyi, in February. This put an end to the gradual transition to democracy of the country, which was also a military dictatorship in the past.
The State Department in Washington reported on Tuesday that U.S. government employees in Myanmar and their relatives are now being ordered to leave. Since February 14, the ministry has already given standard permission for voluntary departure.
The murders of dozens of protesters by the Myanmar junta’s security forces were condemned by the White House on Monday. The U.S. also announced that it would end all trade and investment cooperation with Myanmar until the democratically elected government is in control again.
Earlier this month, the U.S. imposed sanctions against members of the military regime and conglomerates controlled by the Myanmar military.
At least 512 civilians have been killed in protests against the army coup in the past two months. 141 of them were killed on Saturday, yet the bloodiest day of this year in Myanmar, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. This human rights group collects information about the repression in Myanmar.
