US slams Russian weapons sales to Myanmar

WASHINGTON: Russia’s military sales to Myanmar may aggravate the current situation there, says US state department spokesperson Heather Nauert.

“It is long-standing US policy not to provide Burma’s (Myanmar’s) military with operational training, weapons or other technology or military materiel. We want to see Burma’s military take real steps to demonstrate a commitment to human rights, national reconciliation and democracy,” she said on Wednesday. “This would seem to be an occasion where Russia could show solidarity through humanitarian assistance rather than potentially aggravating the situation through weapons sales.”

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Alexander Fomin said Myanmar and Russia had reached an agreement on six Russian Su-30 fighter jets, and Myanmar had expressed interest in naval and land equipment.

“This is a good example of the challenges we face,” Nauert said. “While the majority of the world is seeking peaceful resolution to the crisis in Burma, some are prepared to take steps that could lead to greater suffering and instability.”

The conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state between the largely Muslim Rohingya and the Buddhists dates back to the previous century. The central authorities and the Buddhist population consider Rohingya to be undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh.

The most recent escalation happened in August, after Rohingya insurgents attacked government security posts. The authorities responded, which resulted in clashes and the deaths of hundreds of Rohingya, and forced thousands of others to flee to Bangladesh.

The situation has been harshly criticised by the global community, which has called for an end to violence there.