LONDON (CU)_The United Kingdom has announced sanctions on three generals from Myanmar over the military coup earlier this month, which overthrew and detained the country’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and several other government figures. Accordingly, travel bans and asset freezes will be imposed on Myanmar’s defence minister General Mya Tun Oo, home affairs minister Lt General Soe Htut and deputy home affairs minister Lt General Than Hlaing.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the restrictions would “hold the Myanmar military to account for their violations of human rights”. The announcement was made just over a week after the United States imposed similar restrictions on the military leaders of the Southeast Asian country.
The coup on February 1 was centred around November’s parliamentary election, in which the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) performed poorly. Therefore, the military repeatedly disputed the election results, and seized power in a bloodless coup, arresting Suu Kyi, who achieved a landslide victory at the election.
According to UK’s Foreign Office the recent action was taken “in tandem” with Canada, which has also announced its own sanctions against the new regime.
“The UK condemns the military coup and the arbitrary detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political figures,” Raab said. “We, alongside our international allies, will hold the Myanmar military to account for their violations of human rights and pursue justice for the Myanmar people.”
However, the British government has faced criticism from the opposition party for failing to impose sanctions in the immediate aftermath of the coup.
Labour’s shadow Foreign Office minister Stephen Kinnock called the latest sanctions a “step in the right direction”, but added that the action was “still not good enough”. He said that the British government should also target firms in Myanmar that “bankroll” the military.
