Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, announced Sunday that he will be heading to Myanmar on a visit focused on pandemic support and bringing humanitarian access to the country, the Associated Press reported.
"In moments of crisis and instability such as this one, we must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to those most in need," Richardson said.
Myanmar has been tied up in civil unrest and violence since a military coup seized power in February. Protests have taken place and many protesters faced arrests and beatings. Since the takeover in February, security forces have killed more than 1,200 people.
The Biden administration said Monday it welcomes the private mission as a way to help speed humanitarian access to the country.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
The State Department said Richardson was making the trip on his own but that it hoped he could help convince Myanmar's leaders to allow in much-needed aid for the coronavirus pandemic and other urgent needs.
"Governor Richardson has extensive experience working on humanitarian issues," the department said. "While this is not an effort sponsored by, or on behalf of, the United States government, we hope his trip contributes to improved humanitarian access."
"The humanitarian and health needs in Burma are extraordinary," it said, using Myanmar's other name. "We continue to call on the military regime to cease its violence, release those unjustly detained, allow unimpeded humanitarian access, and ensure the safety of health and humanitarian workers."
Richardson said his center—The Richardson Center—has a long history of involvement in Myanmar, but did not mention the coup in his trip announcement or detail who he planned to meet with while there. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was aware of the mission, said Richardson spokesperson Madeleine Mahony.
Mahony declined to say whether Richardson would also be working for the release of American journalist Danny Fenster who has been jailed in Myanmar since May 24. Fenster was detained at Yangon International Airport as he was about to board a flight to the United States. He is the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, an online magazine based in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city.
Fenster was charged with incitement—also known as sedition—for allegedly spreading false or inflammatory information. The offense is punishable by up to three years in prison.
Richardson last visited Myanmar in 2018 to advise on the Rohingya crisis. He ended up quitting an international panel set up to work on findings from a previous commission after armed forces were accused of carrying out rapes and killings of Rohingya Muslims in western Rakhine state. Myanmar has denied the allegations.
