On February 10th, 2021, the United States government announced that it would be imposing sanctions on Myanmar’s military government. The military, known as the Tatmadaw, gained control of the country in a coup on February 1st, ousting the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The sanctions will target individuals and entities associated with the military junta, including freezing US assets and banning US citizens from engaging in financial transactions with them. Additionally, the US government has also blocked the export of jet fuel to Myanmar, a move that will undoubtedly have significant implications on the country’s aviation industry. This article will explore the reasons for the US sanctions, their potential impact, and the broader implications of the military coup in Myanmar.
The US government has announced that it is imposing additional sanctions on Myanmar, following other nations in their condemnation of the human rights violations and violence that have occurred in the country since the military coup in 2019. The sanctions, which apply to two individuals and six entities, were implemented by the US Department of State on Friday.
The individuals that the sanctions apply to are Tun Min Latt, a Burmese businessman, and his spouse Win Min Soe. The sanctions also cover three entities that Latt controls or owns. These latest sanctions are part of an international effort to hold the Myanmar military regime accountable for the atrocities that have been committed.
In a statement released by the US Department of State, Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his support for the sanctions, stating that “the actions we are taking today further align with those taken by Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.” The US Treasury Department is also issuing sanctions and a Sanctions Alert on Burma jet fuel, providing information for individuals and businesses on the risks associated with the jet fuel being supplied to the Myanmar military regime.
The announcement of these additional sanctions comes after a human rights group published a report in February condemning the US’s inconsistent treatment of Myanmar’s junta, particularly regarding the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which the junta controls. The report called on the US government to take stronger action against the regime and to ensure that American companies do not support human rights abuses in Myanmar.
The international community has been pressuring the Myanmar military regime to end the violence and respect human rights since the coup. The regime has responded with a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, resulting in the death of over 800 people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of others. The sanctions imposed by the US and other nations are aimed at increasing pressure on the regime to change its behavior.
The US government has been taking a multi-pronged approach to addressing the situation in Myanmar. In addition to imposing sanctions, they have also been providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence and working to engage regional partners in efforts to resolve the crisis. The US has also been supporting efforts to document human rights abuses, with the hope that those responsible will eventually be held accountable for their actions.
While these latest sanctions are a step in the right direction, many activists and human rights groups are calling for even more robust measures to be taken against the Myanmar military regime. The international community will continue to monitor the situation in Myanmar and take action as needed to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
