US increases sanctions on Myanmar coup leaders

Biden administration continues to expand punitive action as military junta intensifies crackdown on protesters

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing in Washington, March 10, 2021. UPI/Bloomberg

The US increased sanctions on Myanmar’s military junta on Wednesday, with measures against two adult children of armed forces commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and businesses under their control.

“We will continue to work with a broad coalition of international partners to promote accountability for coup leaders, those responsible for this violence and other abuses and those who benefit financially from the regime,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

“We will not hesitate to take further action against those who instigate violence and suppress the will of the people.

"These sanctions are directed at those responsible for the coup, in support of the people of Burma.”

The sanctions were placed on Gen Hlaing’s children, Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet, and six companies they control.

They are A & M Mahar, Sky One Construction, The Yangon Restaurant, The Yangon Gallery, Everfit Company and Seventh Sense.

“The indiscriminate violence by Burma’s security forces against peaceful protesters is unacceptable,” said Andrea Gacki, the director of the Treasury Department office overseeing sanctions.

“The United States will continue to work with our international partners to press the Burmese military and police to cease all violence against peaceful protesters, and to restore democracy and the rule of law in Burma.”

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order in February imposing sanctions on Burmese coup leaders and their family members after the removal of Myanmar’s democratically elected government and imprisonment of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

The initial sanctions focused on Gen Hlaing and nine other coup leaders, and three companies. The US also imposed trade sanctions on the military last week.

Mr Blinken said that the military has killed 53 people since the coup and detained more than 1,7000 people.

“The United States calls on the international community to speak with one voice in support of the people of Burma who, in spite of the brutal violence perpetrated by Burmese security forces, continue to demonstrate courage and determination in their efforts to reject the military coup,” Mr Blinken said.

“We urge the military to restore the democratically elected government, cease all attacks on peaceful protesters, immediately release all those unjustly detained and stop attacks on and intimidation of journalists, civil servants and activists.”

The announcement came as he gave his first testimony as Secretary of State before Congress on Wednesday.