US lifts travel ban on Myanmar officials

US lifts travel ban on Myanmar officials

Published on Saturday, 04 May 2013 23:32

The United States government has eased on Thursday a visa ban on former Myanmar's military officials, their business partners, and immediate families to support reforms in the country.

The US State of Department said the travel restriction, first imposed in 1996, has been terminated but visa and investment bans on individuals accused of human rights abuses will still be retained.

"Since 2011, the civilian-led Government of Burma has taken important steps toward significant social, political, and economic reform that demonstrate substantial progress on areas of concern," the statement said.

Although travel restrictions have been removed, the officials that were formerly in the banned list will still have to go under scrutiny for their visas, the statement added.

The termination was announced on the same day when President Barack Obama extended the National Emergency Act against Myanmar for another year, prohibiting U.S. businesses and individuals from investing or doing business with Myanmar figures involved in repression of the democracy movement since the mid-1990s, Reuters reported.

"The USA is committed to supporting and strengthening Burma's reform efforts to ensure that the democratic transition becomes irreversible. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency with respect to Burma," Obama said in letter to Congress.

Last month, the European Union lifted most of its sanctions against Myanmar, except for arms embargoes in response to political reforms implemented by President Thein Sein since he took office in 2010.

Ref: News Agencies

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/05/05/us-lifts-travel-ban-on-myanmar-officials/