The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on seven individuals and two entities linked to the Burmese military regime in coordination with Britain and Canada, the U.S. Treasury Department said, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the February military coup in Burma.
The three nations also imposed sanctions on K.T. Services and Logistics Co. Ltd., its Chief Executive Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, and the military’s procurement directorate for allegedly providing financial support to the military regime.
Washington also sanctioned Tay Za, owner of “multiple companies known to provide equipment and services, including arms, to the Burmese military,” along with his two adult sons, who were “instrumental to Tay Za’s business dealings with the Burmese military.”
Sanctioned individuals will have their assets frozen in the United States and will be prohibited from doing business with Americans.
The military regime ousted an elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, sparking protests and clashes between the army and ethnic minority insurgents in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
At least 1,500 individuals have been killed since the military seized power. Some 11,787 others were arbitrarily detained for opposing the military through peaceful protests and online activities, 8,792 of which remain in custody, and at least 290 have died as a result of torture, according to the U.N.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said there were reports of the military regime’s “clearance operations” targeting villagers, as well as indiscriminate attacks through airstrikes and the use of heavy weaponry in populated areas.
The nine countries include Albania, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
“We reiterate our call on the military regime to immediately end the State of Emergency, allow unhindered humanitarian access, release all arbitrarily detained persons, including foreigners, and swiftly return the country to the democracy process,” it stated.