The military coup in Burma, also known as Myanmar, took place Feb. 1, 2021, resulting in the overthrow of the democratically elected government and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's de facto leader.
The coup was followed by widespread protests and civil unrest, with the military using violent means to suppress the demonstrations, according to Human Rights Watch.
"As we mark two years of the Burma military regime's violent coup, we join our partners in reaffirming our commitment to supporting peace and inclusive democracy in Burma, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and promoting accountability for the regime's atrocities," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a Jan. 31 post on Twitter.
The U.S. Department of State calls for the international community to address the human rights violations and abuses committed by the military regime in Burma since the coup, according to a State Department statement. It calls for holding those responsible accountable, stopping the sale and transfer of weapons used to perpetrate atrocities and providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma, particularly those most vulnerable.
The statement emphasizes the importance of taking decisive action to address the crisis in Burma and to support the restoration of democracy and respect for human rights in the country.
"With our partners and allies, we call on the international community to press Burma's military regime to end its campaign of horrific violence,” Blinken said in a Feb. 1 news release. “We remain resolute in advancing a peaceful reconciliation to the crisis, respecting the will of Burma's people."
