US Announces Sanctions on Myanmar Military-Linked Arms Broker

THE I DIPLOMAT

By Sebastian Strangio

October 07, 2022

Aung Moe Myint and his Dynasty International company are accused of procuring Russian-made arms from Belarus for the military.

The United States has announced a further round of sanctions on Myanmar’s military government, targeting three individuals and one entity “for their roles related to the procurement of Russian-produced military arms from Belarus for the Burmese regime.”

In a statement announcing the sanctions, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the sanctions “aim to target those abetting the military’s ability to carry out human rights abuses.”

U.S. issues sanctions on alleged arms dealers for Myanmar junta

REUTERS
Simon Lewis, Chris Gallagher
March 25, 2022

WASHINGTON, March 25 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on alleged arms dealers and companies it said were involved in procuring weapons for Myanmar's junta, coordinating with similar measures from Canada and Britain.

The U.S. measures targeted three alleged arms dealers and two companies linked to them, as well as a conglomerate operating in the defense sector owned by alleged arms dealer Tay Za, who was already under U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Treasury said.

China Boosts Support for Myanmar Army, Countering U.S. Sanctions

Bloomberg News
9 June 2021

China says its policy toward Myanmar remains unaffected by the country’s domestic situation, bolstering support for a regime that has faced multiple rounds of sanctions from the U.S. and its Western allies following a coup four months ago.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterpart Wunna Maung Lwin during a meeting on Tuesday in Chongqing that Beijing would continue implementing bilateral projects in the Southeast Asian nation, Myanmar state broadcaster MRTV reported.

ASEAN calls summit on Myanmar as EU widens sanctions

REUTERS
April 20, 2021

Protesters defend themselves from the troops in Kale, Sagaing region, Myanmar March 28, 2021 in this picture taken March 28, 2021 obtained by REUTERS.

Southeast Asian countries will discuss the crisis in Myanmar at a summit in Jakarta on Saturday, but some are choosing to send ministers rather than heads of government.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to guide Myanmar, a member, out of the bloody turmoil triggered by the military overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1.

But the group's principles of consensus and non-interference have restricted its ability to overcome members' divergent views on how to respond to the army's killing of hundreds of civilians.

Defusing Myanmar Requires More Than Western Sanctions

Bloomberg
Clara Ferreira Marques
1 April 2021,

The junta’s violence has killed hundreds of protesters and put insurgent groups on a war footing. Time is running out to avert a cataclysm.

Protesters prepare Molotov cocktails.Source: Getty Images

Myanmar has long been a textbook example of sanctions failure. Years of isolation battered the population but didn’t loosen the grip of the Tatmadaw, as the armed forces are known. When they ceded ground a decade ago, they did so on their own terms — and even that, as February’s coup proved, was all too easily reversed.

US Government to Sanction Military-Linked Myanmar Conglomerates: Report

THE I DIPLOMAT 

Sebastian Strangio
March 25, 2021

MEC and MEHL control a vast network of companies that channel profits into the Tatmadaw’s coffers. 

The United States is reportedly set to impose sanctions on two large conglomerates linked to the Myanmar military, the latest retaliation by the Biden administration for the military’s seizure of power last month.

Reuters, citing “two sources familiar with the matter,” said that the move to blacklist Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) could come as early as Thursday. The move would prevent the two firms and their many subsidiaries from making any transactions with U.S. persons or having any contact with the U.S. banking system, and would freeze any assets that they have in the U.S.

Exclusive: EU preparing sanctions on Myanmar military businesses, documents show

REUTERS

Gabriela Baczynska, Robin Emmott
MARCH 8, 2021

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is preparing to widen its sanctions on Myanmar’s armed forces to target businesses they run, in protest at the Feb. 1 military coup, according to diplomats and two internal documents seen by Reuters.

A woman shows a three-finger salute during a protest against the military coup in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

The measures, which diplomats said could be agreed by EU foreign ministers on March 22, would target companies “generating revenue for, or providing financial support to, the Myanmar Armed Forces”, said one of the documents dated March 5.

While the bloc has an arms embargo on Myanmar, and has targeted some senior military officials since 2018, the measures would be its most significant response so far since the coup.

Myanmar coup latest: UK slaps new sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing

NIKKEI ASIA

Nikkei staff writers
February 22, 2021

Military supporters confront residents in Yangon; ASEAN eyes 'informal' talks

A protester in Mandalay holds a placard with the face of Myanmar's military commander in chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. © AP

YANGON/BANGKOK -- On Feb. 1, Myanmar's military detained State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint in the country's first coup since 1988, bringing an end to a decade of civilian rule.

The Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy had won a landslide in a general election last November. But the military has claimed the election was marred by fraud.

For all our coverage, visit our Myanmar Coup page.

White House Responds To Burma Coup, Imposing Sanctions, Export Controls

KHARON

Samuel Rubenfeld
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021

U.S. threatens further action if the military does not restore democracy


Students and teachers protest against the military coup in Kayin State, Burma. (Source: Ninjastrikers)

The White House announced broad new curbs on Burma following a coup earlier this month, issuing an executive order, imposing sanctions on military companies and leaders, and other restrictions.

The U.S. actions follow several days of protests in Burma, which is also known as Myanmar, after the Feb. 1 coup that ended a decade of democracy there. The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday adopted a resolution without a vote that “deplored the removal” of the democratically elected government and called for the military to protect the rights of people.

Biden announces US will sanction Myanmar's military leaders following coup

CNN

By Jennifer Hansler,
February 10, 2021

Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that the United States will sanction Myanmar's military leaders after last week's coup in the country.

In brief remarks, the President said he had approved a new executive order allowing the United States to "immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests as well as close family members." He said they would identify targets of those sanctions this week.

"The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the one billion dollars in Burmese government funds held in the United States," Biden noted.