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General Min Aung Hlaing is now on a US government blacklist
Photo: POOL New / REUTERS
After the coup in Myanmar, protests against the military junta continue.
At the same time, international pressure on the regime is growing.
The US government is trying to back the demonstrators with extensive sanctions against the new rulers.
The US Treasury Department announced punitive measures were taken against ten military leaders and three companies affiliated with the armed forces.
Affected are among others the leader of the coup plotters, Min Aung Hlaing, his deputy Soe Win and the new defense minister Mya Tun Oo.
In addition, three mining and jewelery companies are subject to sanctions for ties to the military leadership.
US President Joe Biden had already announced the sanctions on Wednesday, but did not name any concrete measures.
The United States has already accused top coup leaders of human rights violations
Min Aung Hlaing and Soe Win had already been sanctioned by the US at the end of 2019 for alleged human rights violations.
The military in the Southeast Asian country reverted to power last week.
Dozens of political leaders, including de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, were arrested.
Any property owned by affected individuals and companies in the US is now being frozen.
US companies and individuals are also prohibited from doing business with them.
Even if the sanctioned persons do not have any property in the USA, international business is likely to be much more difficult for them because Western banks, for example, are now likely to shy away from transactions.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the US was ready to impose further sanctions if the generals in former Burma fail to give in.
"If there is more violence against peaceful demonstrators, the Burmese military will find that today's sanctions are just the beginning," Yellen said.
The US is now imposing export controls and freezing aid funds that could help the government.
$ 42 million in assistance would be reallocated, and $ 69 million in other funds to help people in the country would continue, it said.
"In a democracy, violence should never triumph over the will of the people or obliterate the outcome of a credible election," said the White House.
EU and Great Britain submit draft UN resolution
Meanwhile, the European Union has submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning the military coup in Myanmar and calling for the restoration of the civilian government.
The draft, which is to be debated in a special session of the Human Rights Council on Friday, also calls for "the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained".
The text, which was drafted by the EU and Great Britain, calls on the military leadership, in addition to the release of Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, "to refrain from any use of force against peaceful demonstrators."
The EU Parliament also demanded sanctions against the army leadership in Myanmar.
A corresponding, non-binding resolution was passed almost unanimously.
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fek / dpa
