The United States (US) Treasury Department has announced fresh sanctions against 22 individuals and companies, including officials, associated with Myanmar’s military “in response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup.”
In a press release on Friday, the US Department of State said the country has officially sanctioned seven senior military officials, including three State Administration Council (SAC) members and four military-appointed cabinet members. In addition, 15 individuals who are “adult children or spouses of previously designated Burmese military officials and whose financial networks contributed to military officials’ ill-gotten gains” have also been sanctioned in retaliation to the use of lethal force against pro-democracy supporters.
The press release also mentioned that the US Department of Commerce added Wanbao Mining Ltd., two of its subsidiaries, and King Royal Technologies to its Entity List. “These entities provide revenue and/or other support to the Burmese military, and Wanbao Mining and its subsidiaries have long been implicated in labour rights violations and human rights abuses, including at the Letpadaung copper mine,” it stated.
The Treasury Department’s statement quoted Andrea Gacki, Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, as saying: “The military’s suppression of democracy and campaign of brutal violence against the people of Burma are unacceptable. Today’s action demonstrates that the United States will continue to impose increasing costs on Burma’s military and promote accountability for those responsible for the military coup and ongoing violence, including by targeting sources of revenue for the military and its leaders.”
In this regard, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US “is committed to promoting accountability for the Burmese military, the SAC, and all those who have provided support for the military coup.” He added that the US “will continue to urge the Burmese military to fully cooperate in expeditious implementation” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Five Point Consensus approved by the ASEAN’s heads of states and Myanmar’s military ruler, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. “The United States will remain a steadfast advocate for the people of Burma’s ability to determine the future of their country,” Blinken’s statement concluded.
After the Myanmar military took over the government’s reign on February 1, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on a dozen current and retired high-ranking officials of the Myanmar military on February 10. The list included six members of the newly installed junta, including its head, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, and his deputy, Soe Win. Following the initial measures, the US added General Maung Maung Kyaw, who commands the Myanmar Air Force, and Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun to its travel ban list. In addition, Washington also froze all US assets belonging to the sanctioned officials.
The latest sanctions aim to pressurise the Burmese military to return to the path of peace and democracy.
US Imposes Fresh Sanctions on 22 Individuals in Connection to Myanmar’s Military Coup
The United States imposed new sanctions on 22 individuals in Myanmar, including four government ministers, in response to the continued violence by the country’s military.
July 5, 2021
SOURCE: SABRANG