Washington, D.C.-- Acting to extend Burma's current national emergency status classification in the United States, President Barack Obama filed a notice indicating that the status, originally declared on May 20, 1997, is to continue, according to a letter released by the Office of the United States Press Secretary Thursday afternoon. The national emergency with respect to Burma was set to end on May 20th without an extension. The emergency status extension for Burma continues a ban on investment and restrictions on financial transactions with Burmese military, according to a statement published by the U.S. Campaign for Burma Thursday via Facebook.



Elsewhere, the United States government also took action to end some sanctions on visas for former military rulers in Burma. An announcement Thursday by the U.S. Department of State declared a previous ban on government and military rulers who contributed to rights abuses no longer necessary because of progress "toward significant social, political, and economic reform..."

In President Obama's letter announcing his action Thursday, he cited human rights abuses in ethnic territories and the continual jailing of political prisoners as reasons for the extension. He also noted Burma's "continued military relationship" with North Korea. In recent months, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ratcheted up violent rhetoric towards the United States. On Tuesday, North Korea's official state news agency announced a sentence of 15 years of hard labor for United States citizen Kenneth Bae, who had been running tours for foreign tourists.

President Obama also noted in the letter that the previous releases of political prisoners, easing of press censorship and entering into ceasefire agreements with armed ethnic groups have signaled "significant progress" within the country.

Obama's announcement Thursday came amidst a period of increased coverage of Burma by American media outlets. With international recognition of the humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya ethnic group gaining momentum, NLD leader and international symbol Aung San Suu Kyi was in the news Thursday after her spokesman, Nyan Win, asserted that Suu Kyi does not believe in the existence of a distinct Rohingya ethnic group. Last week, Human Rights Watch released a report calling the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Burma "crimes against humanity", and labeled them as "ethnic cleansing".