Deputy Secretary of the U.S. State Department Wendy R. Sherman met yesterday with representatives from Myanmar’s shadow government, including Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung, in Washington.
During the meeting, Sherman vowed to provide solid support to the people of Myanmar, who are facing brutal repression by the military regime that overthrew the civilian government and seized control of the country, saying that she’d encourage Myanmar’s return to democracy.
“Met with Zin Mar Aung to show support for all working to restore Burma’s path to inclusive democracy,” she said in a tweet. “We continue to impose costs on the regime and work with ASEAN and other partners toward a just and peaceful resolution to the crisis.”
Sherman also thanked Aung for her courage and sacrifice on behalf of the people of Myanmar and said the United States would support an inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous democracy.
The two ministers condemned the escalation of violence by the regime and called for unrestricted access to humanitarian aid to those in need in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s junta was not invited to the two-day US-ASEAN summit ending Friday and declined to send a nonpolitical representative.
Radio Free Asia reported that Aung, who visited its newsroom for an interview, was provided special security arrangements by the Americans. Aung and some NUG delegates have been in the capital since Wednesday to hold talks with several ASEAN foreign ministers.
During her visit, Aung was expected to meet Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
More than 1,800 people have been killed and 13,000 arrested by the military since the Feb.1 coup last year, according to a rights group based in Thailand, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
