The European Union imposed a slew of sanctions on Monday concentrating on 9 folks and 7 entities related to the ruling Myanmar authorities. Photograph by Diego Azubel/EPA-EFE
Feb. 21 (UPI) — The European Union imposed its sixth spherical on sanctions concentrating on the federal government of Myanmar on Monday, because the junta continues to commit violence in opposition to its residents.
The European Council, the union’s collegiate physique, adopted measures on Monday to blacklist 9 folks and 7 entities on accusations that they’ve aided the junta authorities in threatening the peace and stabilizing of the nation.
Myanmar’s Union Vitality Minister Myo Myint Oo, distinguished arms brokers and high-ranking army officers had been sanctioned Monday, together with departments of the protection ministry and a state-owned enterprise beneath its jurisdiction in addition to personal firms supplying the army with gas, arms and funds.
Sanctions additionally focused Yangon Area politicians and directors, together with Lt. Col. Myo Mint Aung, who’s accused of serving as a army decide concerned in handing down the demise sentences and execution of anti-coup activists Kyaw Min Yu, Phyo Zeya Thaw, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw in July.
The United Nations mentioned their executions had been the primary to be dedicated within the nation since 1988.
In keeping with the assertion of motive for blacklisting Aung, the EU mentioned that in “his tenure as army decide, quite a few members of the opposition had been sentenced to demise and jail phrases.”
Main Gen. Ko Ko Maung, regional army commander in Kachin State, situated in northern Myanmar, was additionally sanctioned Monday for overseeing air strikes, massacres, raids, arson and “the usage of human shields dedicated by the army,” in accordance with the EU.
In October, an airstrike killed some 80 folks and injured 100 extra at a music competition in Kachin.
The sanctions come weeks after the two-year anniversary of the junta seizing management of the nation in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021.
On that day, army overthrew the democratically elected authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was arrested, and put in its ruling State Administration Council regime.
The coup sparked mass protests, which the junta has met with bloody power. In keeping with the Thailand-based Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners, greater than 3,000 folks have been killed by the junta and practically 20,000 have been arrested.
Since coup, some 1.5 million residents have been internally displaced throughout the nation, the United Nations human rights workplace mentioned in late December, including that greater than 34,000 civilian properties have been destroyed within the final two years,
Activist group Justice for Myanmar mentioned that whereas the most recent blacklisting fills gaps in its earlier sanctions regime concentrating on the junta authorities, additional restrictive measures are wanted.
“Whereas these newest sanctions are a optimistic step in reducing the junta’s entry to sources, way more must be achieved to coordinate sanctions that systematically goal the junta’s sources of income, arms and jet gas,” Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung mentioned in a press release.
Because the coup, Western nations, together with the USA, Australia, Britain and Canada, have responded with sanctions in opposition to Myanmar, most not too long ago as a coalition late final month.
However activists are saying they should go additional and be deployed with higher urgency.
“The EU has the correct strategy, however they’re transferring too slowly to implement these sanctions,” Burma Marketing campaign UK mentioned in a press release Monday. “The delay in reducing off sources of income, arms and tools is costing lives.”
Together with sanctions introduced Monday, the EU has imposed asset freezes and journey bans on 93 folks and 18 entities concerned in Myanmar’s ruling junta.