IMF Members to Guide Decision on Recognizing Myanmar Govt

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spokesperson Gerry Rice voiced on Thursday concerns about the effect of the military coup in Myanmar.

IMF will be “guided by our membership” in deciding whether to recognize the military regime that has seized power in Myanmar as the country’s legitimate government, Rice said.

"We are very concerned about the impact of recent events on the people of Myanmar," Rice said during press briefing. "We are watching it very closely."

"The IMF approved emergency assistance of $356.5 million to Myanmar in January as a result of the serious economic and social challenges the country faces," Rice noted.

With respect to recognizing Myanmar's new government, he affirmed that the IMF is always guided by the international community and its member states in such cases.

"We have had no communication at this point with the new regime," he added.

On the other hand, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the world community to make sure Monday’s coup in Myanmar fails, asserting that the reversal of elections is “unacceptable.”

“We’ll do everything we can to mobilize all the key actors of the international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails,” Guterres said.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable to reverse the result of the elections and the will of the people,” Guterres affirmed. “I hope that it’ll be possible to make the military in Myanmar understand that this is not the way to rule the country and this is not the way to move forward.”

The UN Secretary-General called for constitutional order to be re-established in Myanmar, noting that he hoped there would be unity in the Security Council on the matter.