The U.S. Treasury Department has announced the imposition of sanctions against six individuals and three companies linked to the Burmese authorities, two years after the anniversary of the coup d’état in the Asian country.
«Today, one day before the second anniversary of the brutal military coup that deposed Burma’s democratically elected government, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated six individuals and three entities linked to Burma’s military regime,» reads a statement.
These sanctions are in place for «the regime’s efforts to generate revenue and procure weapons,» including the Ministry of Energy, the oil and gas company and the Air Force.
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson has assured that «the United States will continue to promote accountability for those who provide financial and material support and directly enable the violent repression of democracy in Burma.»
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized that «since the military coup, the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Burma has become more severe,» lamenting 3,000 dead, nearly 17,000 detained and more than 1.5 million displaced.
«The regime’s ongoing scorched-earth campaign continues to inflict harm and claim the lives of innocent people, fueling a worsening armed conflict inside Burma and insecurity beyond its borders,» Blinken has asserted.
CANADA AND UK ALSO SANCTION BURMA The Canadian Foreign Ministry has reported that Justin Trudeau’s government has imposed sanctions against six individuals and a new aviation fuel ban on Burmese authorities.
«In two years, the regime has reversed a decade of progress, killing thousands of people. We will continue to press and support the people of Burma on their path to democracy,» said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Joly also urged «all countries to impose similar measures» in view of the «unspeakable atrocities» committed by the authorities of the Asian country over the past two years. «We will continue to press the regime to support the people of Burma on their path to genuine and inclusive democracy,» he concluded.
The British government has also announced sanctions against two individuals and two aviation fuel companies in Burma, with the intention of «increasing pressure on the military junta» in the country.
«The companies that supply the Burma Air Force with the aviation fuel to carry out its relentless bombing campaign against innocent people have been targeted by the UK in the latest round of sanctions, announced to coincide with the second anniversary of the brutal coup that overthrew the elected government,» reads a missive.
The country’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has pointed out that the sanctions imposed «are meticulously targeted to generate maximum impact by reducing the Armed Forces’ access to funding, fuel, weapons and equipment».
«The junta must be held accountable for its brutal repression of opposition voices, terrorizing airstrikes and gross violations of human rights,» he added.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
