The United States recently imposed new sanctions on two individuals and six entities for allegedly providing jet fuel to Myanmar’s military, which has been accused of carrying out human rights abuses against the country’s Rohingya minority. The move comes amidst growing international pressure on Myanmar’s military junta, following the coup that overthrew the democratically-elected government in February. The latest round of sanctions was imposed by the Biden administration, which has pledged to take stronger action against Myanmar’s military leaders in response to their unlawful actions. In this article, we will explore the implications of these sanctions and their impact on Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis.
As a response to its airstrikes on populated areas and other human rights abuses, the United States Treasury Department has imposed additional sanctions on Myanmar aimed at preventing the country’s air force from obtaining jet fuel. This action came just days ahead of the country marking its 78th Armed Forces Day.
The sanctions targeted two individuals, Tun Min Latt and his wife Win Min Soe, as well as six companies, including Asia Sun Trading Co. Ltd., Cargo Link Petroleum Logistics Co. Ltd., and Asia Sun Group. The latter was identified as the “key operator in the jet fuel supply chain.” The announcement alleged that the junta targeted the people of Myanmar with atrocities and violence, including the use of airstrikes in late 2022, on a school and a music concert, which killed 80 people.
Through reports from civil society organizations, the United States has found that those airstrikes would not have been possible without access to fuel supplies. The announcement named Tun Min Latt as the key individual in procuring fuel supplies for the military, stating that he was a close associate of the junta’s leader, Sr. Gen Min Aung Hlaing. The announcement states that Tun Min Latt, through his companies, had engaged in business to import military arms and equipment with the U.S. sanctioned Chinese arms firm NORINCO.
The sanctions imposed by the United States are in line with actions taken by Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Additionally, the spokesperson for Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government expressed gratitude for the sanctions, highlighting that it is like “cutting the bloodlines of the military junta one after another.”
While the sanctions by the United States have many impacts, former military officers claim that they will have little effect on Myanmar. They argue that the Myanmar military has many options when it comes to buying jet fuel and can purchase it from countries like China, Thailand, India, or Russia if necessary. They further argue that Myanmar has learned to survive through sanctions and that there may be little to no impact on the country.
In conclusion, the newly imposed sanctions on Myanmar by the United States aim to pressure the country’s military junta to respect human rights and stop partaking in atrocities. The sanctions by the United States are a part of a collective effort with Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to create accountability for the Burmese military regime’s assault on the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of these sanctions remains to be seen.
