Myanmar is still struggling to resolve the refugee crisis, which continues to damage its international reputation. A top-ranking US foreign aid official delivered a sharp criticism of how Myanmar is handling the repatriation process for more than 750,000 thousand Muslims who have fled to Bangladesh.

Speaking to ABC News, U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Mark Green bashed both the approach and pace of the repatriation. “They have stopped the democratic journey… It is not continuing as long as you have Rohingya and others who are denied their most basic rights, and so we need to be firm in that message all the time, and consistent,” he said.

His comments are a worrying sign for Myanmar as it works to rebuild its global image. The 2017 “clearance operations” by the military damaged its reputation with the United States, Europe and other foreign powers. The United Nations has labeled the situation a “genocide” and has called for a boycott of all military affiliated businesses. Foreign investment as well as Myanmar’s tourism industry have taken a hit.

In response, the Myanmar government has claimed that the UN’s allegations are overblown. The government recently urged the UN to spend less on investigations and more on assistance for repatriation. Myanmar has made several attempts to entice refugees back across the border, but with little success. A UN investigator commented recently that a “system of persecution” still exists for Rohingya Muslims and that it is not safe for them to return, according to a Washington Post report.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has focused on business relationships with Asian nations, especially China.