UK, US Impose New Sanctions Against Myanmar Military

The US and the UK have announced new sanctions against the Myanmar military.

The Daily Sabah reports that the sanctions are intended to coincide with the anniversary of a bloody crackdown on protests following last year's coup d'etat.

The new measures came days after United States said it has concluded that Myanmar's military committed genocide against the mostly Muslim Rohingya minority.

U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson said in a statement; "Brutality and oppression have become trademarks of the Burmese military regime's rule."

"Treasury is committed to holding accountable those who are responsible for the ongoing violence and repression."

The US sanctions target 2 military commanders, an infantry division as well as 3 businessmen and 4 businesses.

Britain's Minister for Asia, Amanda Milling said; "The Myanmar military has shown no signs of stopping its brutal campaign of violence against the people of Myanmar, who continue in their fight for democracy.

"These sanctions target those who are instrumental in supplying the military with weapons that facilitate these abuses across the country."

The UK targeted the new air force chief and a businessman who acts as the honorary consul of Belarus, as well as a businessman and firm that the U.S. sanctioned.

The measures come as Western nations increasingly punish the military both for the February 2021 coup that saw Aung San Suu Kyi ousted and the violence in 2016 and 2017 against the Rohingya, which US earlier declared was an attempt to destroy the Muslim minority.