Burma Campaign UK today welcomed new European Union sanctions targeting the Burmese military and associates facilitating their crimes.
Nine people and seven companies/entities have been added to the list of those sanctioned.
This round of sanctions is well targeted, focusing on suppliers of aviation fuel, arms brokers, military procurement entities and members of the Burmese military and associated bodies.
The new sanctions apply to:
Aviation fuel supplier
Asia Sun Group
9 Individuals
Hlaing Oo, Chair of Myanmar Chemical and Machinery (MCM), who has brokered arms and equipment to the Burmese military.
Sit Taing Aung, who has brokered arms and equipment to the Burmese military.
Kyaw Min Oo, Director of Sky Aviator, who has brokered arms and equipment to the Burmese military.
Moe Aung, Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Navy.
Maung Maung Aye, Chief of General Staff for the Myanmar army, navy, and air force.
Myo Myint Aung, Yangon Region economic Minister of the State Administration Council (SAC).
Zin Min Htet, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and Chief of the Myanmar Police Force.
Ko Ko Maung, Regional Military Commander in Kachin State.
Myo Myint Oo, Union Minister for Energy.
3 Military arms procurement bodies
Myanmar Office of the Quarter Master General, Myanmar Directorate of Defense Industries, Myanmar Directorate of Defense Procurement.
3 Arms Brokers
Dynasty Group of Companies, International Gateways Group of Company Limited (IGG), and Sky Aviator Company Limited.
The new sanctions legislation is available here.
“These new EU sanctions are right on target, aimed at limiting airstrikes and supplies of arms and equipment, as well as targeting individuals responsible for serious human rights violations,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The EU has the right approach, but they are moving too slowly to implement these sanctions. The delay in cutting off sources of revenue, arms, and equipment is costing lives.”
There were only two rounds of EU Burma sanctions in 2022, despite the increased use of airstrikes against civilian targets, the first executions of political prisoners in decades, and the number of political prisoners reaching an all-time record high of more than 13,000.
Last week, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma reported that the number of those killed since the attempted coup began has reached 3,000. This figure is an underestimate because of the challenges of documentation in many parts of the country.
“Two years on from the coup, there are hundreds of companies and individuals which should be sanctioned, but have not been,” said Anna Roberts. “The people of Burma are doing everything they can to resist military rule and defend human rights, but the same can’t be said for the EU, UK or USA. The EU is implementing the right policy, but far too slowly.”