In a joint effort, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada have introduced a fresh round of sanctions aimed at arms dealers and financiers linked to the Myanmar military, who have been implicated in the repression of the civilian population in Myanmar. These sanctions target individuals and entities involved in either providing financial services to the regime or supplying restricted goods, including aircraft parts.
Today’s sanctions are part of ongoing international endeavors to restrict the sale and transfer of arms and finances in response to the escalating aerial attacks, including those against civilians, by the Myanmar military. In 2022 alone, over 600 reported airstrikes were attributed to the Myanmar military.
Since the military coup in February 2021, the Myanmar military has been responsible for the deaths of at least 3,857 individuals, with over 1.2 million forced to flee their homes due to violence, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.
This announcement follows a report by UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, which called for coordinated sanctions to prevent arms dealers from bypassing restrictions.
Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, stated, “The UK unequivocally condemns the regime’s brutal campaign against the Myanmar people. Together with our international partners, we are closing the net on Myanmar arms dealers and the Myanmar military’s financiers with new sanctions that will aim to limit their access to key resources and revenue to prevent further such attacks. The UK will continue to call for accountability, justice, and an end to the violence. We remain steadfast in our support for the Myanmar people and their aspirations for a peaceful and democratic future.”
The military regime in Myanmar overthrew the democratically elected government on February 1, 2021, and has since used violence and atrocities to maintain power and suppress opposition voices.
The coordinated actions by the UK, US, and Canada seek to hold the military regime accountable for its brutal suppression of opposition voices, with a focus on limiting regime access to key resources while minimizing the impact on the civilian population.
Since the coup, the UK has designated 25 individuals and 29 entities under the Myanmar Sanctions Regime and has also targeted the military’s key conglomerates and their 111 subsidiaries under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The UK continues to lead international efforts aimed at undermining the regime’s credibility and restricting its access to revenue and arms.
Background: Individuals and entities sanctioned today include:
- Myo Thitsar, associated with Dynasty International, involved in supplying restricted goods to Myanmar.
- Htoo Htet Tay Za, a director of Htoo Group of Companies, involved in the supply of restricted goods and making available funds to the Myanmar security forces.
- Pye Phyo Tay Za, associated with Myanmar Avia Services, Yangon Aircraft Engineering Company Limited, and Htoo Group of Companies, involved in supplying restricted goods and providing funds to the Myanmar security forces.
- Kyaw Min Oo, director of Sky Aviator Company Limited, involved in supplying restricted goods to Myanmar.
- Sit Taing Aung, associated with Yatanarpon Aviation Services and Mottama Holdings, involved in supplying restricted goods to Myanmar.
- International Group of Entrepreneur Services Company Limited (IGE), providing funds or other economic resources to the Myanmar security forces.
Asset Freeze: An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen or business from dealing with funds or economic resources owned, held, or controlled by the designated person. It also prohibits the provision of funds or economic resources to or for the benefit of the designated person.
Travel Ban: A travel ban means that designated persons are denied entry or permission to remain in the United Kingdom under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971 if they are considered excluded persons. UK financial sanctions apply to all individuals within the UK’s territory and territorial sea, as well as to all UK persons worldwide.
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