House Republicans and Democrats introduced a legislation that would curtail assistance or cooperation with Myanmar's military and require the White House to identify senior military officials who would have US visa bans imposed or re- imposed against them.
A bipartisan group in the Senate, including Senate Armed Services Committee chairman John McCain, introduced their bill yesterday.
It calls for renewal of import and trade restrictions on Myanmar, including re-imposing a ban on jade and rubies from the country also known as Burma.
The tough proposals came as US President Donald Trump departed for an extended trip to Asia, where he will attend a summit with Southeast Asian nations including Myanmar.
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The United States, while condemning the deadly violence that has prompted more than 600,000 people to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, has been careful to say it holds the military responsible, not Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government.
"This violence must stop, perpetrators must be held accountable, and there must be meaningful civilian control over Burma's military and security forces," Engel said.
Lawmakers also want Myanmar's military to ensure safe return of refugees displaced from northern Rakhine State, where the military has been accused by the United Nations of a campaign of ethnic cleansing.
"There will be consequences for their crimes against humanity," said Senator Ben Cardin, a Democratic sponsor of the bill.
The two politicians spoke by telephone in September, when she assured McConnell she was working to get aid to Rohingya Muslims.
McConnell defended the Nobel peace laureate after the call, warning that "publicly condemning Aung San Suu Kyi, the best hope for democratic reform in Burma, is not constructive."
Suu Kyi has been hammered by the international community for failing to use her moral power to speak up in defense of the Rohingya.
On Thursday she visited Rakhine for the first time.
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