BRUSSELS — The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on
members of Myanmar's junta who took control of the country in a February 1
coup, as well as its new information minister and two conglomerates controlled
by the military.
اضافة اعلان
In its firmest response yet to the ousting of an elected
government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the EU said nine
members of the junta's State Administration Council, formed the day after the
coup, had been targeted with travel bans and asset freezes. So was information
minister U Chit Naing.
The decision, first reported by Reuters on March 8 and April
15, puts the leaders of the junta and their top administrators under sanctions
and follows similar measures by the United States. Myanmar Commander in Chief
Min Aung Hlaing and Myint Swe, who has been acting president since the coup,
were blacklisted by the EU last month.
Myanmar's State Administration Council was "responsible
for undermining democracy and the rule of law," the EU said in its
Official Journal.
"The military forces and authorities operating under
the control of the SAC have committed serious human rights violations since
February 1, 2021, killing civilian and unarmed protesters," the EU said.
The EU also moved to target two companies that generate
revenue for the Myanmar Armed Forces, a robust step following on from sanctions
on 11 senior military officials, including the commander in chief, last month.
The EU has an arms embargo on Myanmar.
Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and
Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) were targeted with sanctions on Monday, barring EU investors
and banks from doing business with them. Human rights groups had called for
them to be sanctioned.
"MEHL and its subsidiaries generate revenue (for the
military), therefore contributing to its capabilities to carry out activities
undermining democracy and the rule of law and to serious human rights
violations in Myanmar," the EU said. It made the same charges against MEC.
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