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Sydney, Australia
After a series of reforms and recent landmark elections that gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi her first-ever parliamentary seat, Australia announced it would lift some of the travel and financial sanctions against Myanmar.
More than 200 political figures, including President Thein Sein, had faced travel restrictions under the sanctions.
In a statement to Australian Broadcasting Corp., Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said that 130 names, including military personnel and human rights abuse suspects would continue to be on the restricted list.
"We're easing sanctions after talking to Aung San Suu Kyi and others in the opposition, after talking to the government itself, (and) after talking to other nations," said Carr before his meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in London.
Carr added the Australian government wants to reduce the number of Myanmarese government officials under restriction from current 392 to 130.
"That removes many of the civilians from the list, and that includes President Thein Sein and government ministers. But senior serving military officers and people of human rights interest will stay subject to those Australian sanctions," he said.
The Australian government's decision came less than a week after Suu Kyi and visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron jointly called on international powers to suspend sanctions. The European Union is also considering lifting sanctions later this month.
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