Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with activists from Burma on Feb. 3 to hear their plans for returning to their country’s democratic path as violence at the hands of the Burmese military continues to rage on.

Only a year ago on Feb. 1, 2021, the Southeast Asian country of Burma underwent a violent coup where the democratically elected members of the country's ruling party were overthrown by the military, resulting in over 700 deaths and 3,000 citizens detained by the new military government. 

“The Secretary again committed to continue our work with the people of Burma to protect their human rights, provide humanitarian assistance, and support an inclusive and representative pro-democracy movement," government officials said in a press release.

Secretary Blinken's meeting with Burmese activists forwarded the US government's goals to take diplomatic and economic actions to resolve the ongoing crisis in Burma, including imposing targeted sanctions to apply pressure on the regime to end its human rights violations and abuses, release all those unjustly detained, and return Burma to its path to democracy, according to the press release. 

During the meeting, the secretary reportedly discussed the Burmese military’s various atrocities committed during their coup while also underscoring the urgency of holding those responsible accountable. In addition to readjusting Burma's regime to return to democracy, US officials also pressed the for release of all prisoners that were deemed as being unjustly held by the federal government.