Sukhoi SU-30 SM
The United States on January 25 urged Moscow to
reconsider an agreement to supply Russian fighter planes to Burma, the
Southeast Asian country hit by instability caused by ethnic conflict.
The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier this week that
it would sell six Sukhoi SU-30 planes to Burma, also known as Myanmar,
according to Russian state media.
Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency said Burma was
interested in buying other Russian land and naval military hardware for its
forces.
Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General
Alexander Fomin was quoted by state-run TASS news agency as saying that “the
planes will become the main fighter aircraft of [Burma’s] air force to protect
the country’s territorial integrity and repel any terror threats.”
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a
news briefing on January 25 that “we’ve seen some new troubling media reports
that Russia intends to sell SU-30 fighter jets to the Burmese armed
forces."
"The reports, if confirmed, serve as another
reminder of Russia's continued efforts to arm militaries that flagrantly
violate human rights," she said.
"While the Russian Federation says it favors
constructive dialogue to resolve the crisis in Burma, the reports of plans to
sell advanced military technology, if true, show otherwise.
"We urge the governments of both Russia and Burma to
reconsider a further buildup in arms and fully commit their efforts to finding
a peaceful and stable solution to that crisis," she said.
The United States has declared that the Burmese
government's action against its Muslim Rohingya minority in the northern
Rakhine State "constitutes ethnic cleansing."
The violence began late last year amid a military
crackdown following attacks by Rohingya insurgents in Rakhine, leading to the
flight of nearly 700,000 refugees to neighboring Bangladesh.
Burma's government has denied allegations that it is
targeting civilians and says its action is directed against militants.
The United States has assailed Burma's leaders for its
treatment of the minority population.
"After a careful and thorough analysis of available
facts, it is clear that the situation in northern Rakhine state constitutes
ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
said in November.
"No provocation can justify the horrendous
atrocities that have ensued," he added.
The United States previously urged countries to suspend
arms sales to Burma in response to the crackdown.
Based on reporting by Reuters, TASS, and Sofrep News
Original post: rferl.org
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