Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Myanmar’s Junta military forces are increasingly violent towards protesters and anti-coup civilians. Hundreds of lives have been lost since the protests lasted more than a month.
Seeing this, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) imposed sanctions on police and military commanders associated with the coup. In an effort to add to international pressure on the regime, the EU placed Myanmar Junta Chief Min Aung Hlaing on an asset freeze and a visa ban blacklist on Monday (22/3/2021).
“(Min Aung Hlaing) is responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar,” said the official EU journal. AFP, Tuesday (23/3/2021). On the same occasion, the sanctions also targeted nine other senior military officers, as well as the head of Myanmar’s election commission with a travel ban and asset freeze.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the Myanmar police chief and a military special operations commander. The US says it is responsible for using lethal force against demonstrators.
“The Burmese (Myanmar) police have engaged in brutal acts of violence against pro-democracy protesters,” said the US Treasury Department.
According to the US, when the anti-coup protests started, the security forces did not use force against the demonstrators. However, since Than Hlaing was appointed police chief and deputy interior minister on February 2, violence against civilians has become rampant.
Army Commander Aung Soe is also responsible for sending troops to confront protesters using weapons and battlefield tactics. The sanctions also name two infantry divisions of the army involved in quelling the protests.
“(This) shows that lethal force is used in a planned, planned and coordinated manner to counter anti-coup protests,” continued the Ministry of Finance.
Previously, the leaders of Myanmar’s junta had previously been subject to US sanctions. However, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the previous sanctions did not work against the junta’s actions.
So the UN peacekeeping force was asked to step down immediately. This is also, he said, the request of the Myanmar people.
“People are really looking for joint international action in terms of sanctions. Frankly, some people here want to see peacekeepers,” he was quoted as saying, Monday (22/3/2021).
“There are great hopes in the United Nations, with the entire international community.”
“We are doing everything we can in the current situation, and there is still a sense of frustration among people because the international community has not done more so far.”
Myanmar is now in turmoil after a coup carried out by the military on February 1. The democracy that Myanmar built in recent years has shattered and made its people suffer. It also led to isolation and several international sanctions.
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