EU, US impose sanctions on Myanmar coup leaders and entities

Brussels

THE European Union and the US on Monday imposed sanctions on individuals linked to the Feb 1 coup in Myanmar, the most significant response since the military began suppressing protests violently.

The EU's foreign ministers adopted the travel bans and asset freezes at a meeting in Brussels. The 27-nation bloc already had an arms embargo on Myanmar, and has maintained sanctions against some senior military officers since 2018.

"We are going to take sanctions against 11 persons involved in the coup and the repression of the demonstrators," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters that repression of pro-democracy protesters had reached an unbearable degree.

Among the individuals affected are Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military, and Myint Swe, who has been acting president since the coup.

EU diplomats have told Reuters that the bloc is likely to toughen its response soon by barring EU investors and banks from doing business with parts of the military's business conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC).

The conglomerates range from mining and manufacturing to food and beverages, hotels, telecommunications and banking. They are among Myanmar's biggest taxpayers, and sought partnerships with foreign companies during Myanmar's democratic liberalisation.

The sanctions will be the EU's most significant response to the events in Myanmar so far. "We don't intend to punish the people of Myanmar but those who blatantly violate human rights," Mr Maas said.

The US action came on the heels of the European Union sanctions.

"The Burmese security forces' lethal violence against peaceful protesters must end," said Andrea Gacki, director of the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. "We continue to stand with the people of Burma."

The Treasury's action targeted Than Hlaing, a police force leader, and military officer Aung Soe, as well as two military groups, the 33rd Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army and the 77th Light Infantry Division of the Burmese Army.

At least 250 people have been killed so far in the crackdown on the protests, according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group.

Myanmar has been locked in crisis since the elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown by the military on Feb 1.

The junta says a Nov 8 election won by Ms Suu Kyi's party was fraudulent, an accusation rejected by the electoral commission.

Military leaders have promised a new election but have not set a date.

Ms Suu Kyi and other figures in her National League for Democracy are being held in detention while an array of accusations have been levelled at her, including bribery. Her lawyer says the charges are trumped up.

In the latest violence, three people were killed in Mandalay, witnesses and the Myanmar Now news portal said.

Tun Tun Aung, a 15-year-old, was killed in his hut when security forces opened fire in the Mya Yi Nandar area of the city, his sister said.

"My brother was sitting next to the window," she said. "We live in the squatters area. Our house is not strong enough to stop bullets."

Six people were killed and several wounded in the city on Sunday, Myanmar Now reported.

State media said on Sunday that men on motorcycles attacked a member of the security forces who later died. The military said two policemen were killed in earlier protests.

The weeks of violence have forced many citizens to think up novel ways to protest.

In a patch of woodland in western Mon State, trees have been decorated with condoms and portraits of the junta leader with a sign saying "Min Aung Hlaing's father should have used a condom".

Motorists honked car horns in downtown areas of the commercial capital Yangon in a sign of protest.

In the western town of Mindat in Chin state, protesters planted scores of posters in a square in front of the main market saying "Military dictatorship must fail".

Elsewhere, protesters replaced crowds of people with pots and pans, stuffed toys, dolls or toy cars, all carrying anti-junta signs.

Asian neighbours, who have for years avoided criticising each other, have begun speaking out.

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visited Brunei Darussalam on Monday before going to Malaysia and Indonesia, which are seeking an urgent meeting of Southeast Asia's Asean regional grouping, of which Myanmar is a member.

Brunei is the current chair of the 10-member group.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat told an investors conference that his country was "appalled by the violent crackdowns against civilians" and called for a return to the democratic transition.

Singapore, which has deep economic ties with Myanmar, has previously called the military action a "national shame".

The BBC said on Monday that one of its reporters in Myanmar who was detained by plainclothes men three days ago had been freed. Aung Thura, from the BBC's Myanmar service, was detained on Friday along with a journalist who works for the domestic Mizzima news service.

There was no immediate word on the whereabouts of the Mizzima reporter.

Australian media reported that two Australian business consultants were detained as they tried to leave Myanmar, but it was not clear why. An Australian foreign ministry spokesperson said it was providing consular assistance but declined to comment further for privacy reasons.

Sean Turnell, an Australian economic adviser to Ms Suu Kyi, was detained last month. The army has not announced any charges against Mr Turnell, who is among nearly 2,000 people the AAPP says have been detained since the coup. REUTERS