Canada and the United Kingdom also sanction the Burmese authorities to “increase pressure on the military junta”
Feb. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United States Department of the Treasury has announced the imposition of sanctions against six people and three companies linked to the Burmese authorities, two years after the anniversary of the coup in the Asian country.
“Today, one day before the second anniversary of the brutal military coup that deposed the democratically elected government of Burma, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated six individuals and three entities related to the Burma’s military regime,” read a statement.
These sanctions take place because of “the regime’s efforts to generate revenue and acquire weapons,” including the Ministry of Energy, the oil and gas company, and the Air Force.
The Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson, has assured that “the United States will continue to promote the accountability of those who provide financial and material support and directly enable the violent repression of democracy in Burma.”
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has criticized that “since the military coup, the political, economic and humanitarian crisis in Burma has become more serious”, lamenting 3,000 deaths, almost 17,000 detainees and more than 1.5 million displaced .
“The regime’s ongoing scorched earth campaign continues to inflict damage and take the lives of innocent people, fueling a worsening armed conflict inside Burma and insecurity beyond its borders,” Blinken said.
CANADA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ALSO SANCTION BURMA
The Canadian Foreign Ministry has reported that the government of Justin Trudeau has imposed sanctions against six people and a new ban on aviation fuel to the Burmese authorities.
“In two years, the regime has reversed a decade of progress, killing thousands of people. We will continue to pressure and support the people of Burma on their path to democracy,” Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said.
Joly, in addition, has urged “all countries to impose similar measures” due to the “unspeakable atrocities” of the authorities of the Asian country during the last two years. “We will continue to put pressure on the regime to support the people of Burma on their path towards a genuine and inclusive democracy,” he concluded.
The British government has also announced sanctions against two individuals and two Myanmar aviation fuel companies, with the intention of “increasing pressure on the military junta” in the country.
“The companies that supply the Burmese Air Force with aviation fuel to carry out its relentless campaign of bombings 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. who overthrew the elected government,” read a letter.
The country’s foreign minister, James Cleverly, has indicated that the sanctions imposed “are meticulously aimed at generating maximum impact, reducing the access of the Armed Forces to financing, fuel, weapons and equipment.”
“The junta must be held accountable for its brutal suppression of opposition voices, terrifying airstrikes and flagrant violations of human rights,” it added.
