The Treasury Department announced on Monday that it was imposing sanctions on two members of Myanmar’s ruling Junta, including the Chief of Police and two military units linked to the coup.
In a release from the Treasury Department, the U.S. says the sanctions are a result of the government’s “continued campaign of violence and intimidation against peaceful protesters and civil society.”
The Government of Myanmar, also known as Burma has made no comment on this issue.
The military seized power since the over-throw of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected Government on 01st February. Suu Kyi is being held in detention together with other high-ranking officials.
“Since then, Burma’s police have engaged in brutal acts of violence against pro-democracy protesters,” the statement said, using another name for Myanmar.
The U.S Treasury action targeted Than Hlaing who was appointed to the lead the Police Force after the coup and Lieutenant General Aung Soe, a special operations commander overseeing the crackdown.
“Under Than Hlaing’s leadership, the Burma Police Force has gone from attacking peaceful protesters with water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas, to using live ammunition; this escalation culminated in police killing dozens of peaceful protesters all across Burma on March 14, 2021, including 37 in the Rangoon suburb of Hlaingthaya,” according to the statement.
Also sanctioned is Burmese Politician and Political Prisoner, Lieutenant General Aung Soe, who according to the Treasury is in the Bureau of Special Operations and directly reports to the commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
“Regional commands under Aung Soe’s control have participated in the vicious attacks on peaceful protests,” the Treasury statement said. “These soldiers were armed with weapons meant for the battlefield, not police actions, demonstrating that lethal force is being used in a planned, premeditated, and coordinated manner against the anti-coup protests.”
Military divisions targeted
Additionally, Treasury cited the 33rd Light Infantry Division of Myanmar’s Army and the 77th Light Infantry Division “for being responsible for or complicit in, or for having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, actions or policies that prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom of expression or assembly by people in Burma.”
Those sanctioned will be blocked from all property and interests in property “that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by them, individually or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons.”
While the U.S. announced its sanctions on military leaders who directed the coup, the U.S slapped sanctions on Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Tiri Thet Mon, the two adult children of Burmese Military Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. The sanctions were announced by the U.S Department of Treasury on Wednesday. At the beginning of December 2017, the U.S. imposed human rights sanctions on the perpetrators of the Rohingya atrocities which included Min Aung Hlaing and many other generals.
Claims of election fraud
The U.S. has summoned for the instant release of Aung San Suu Kyi Leader of the National League for Democracy Party, ousted President Win Myint, protestors, journalists and human rights activists who have been unjustly detained since 01st February.
According to Military Officials, Suu Kyi’s landslide victory at last year’s general elections held in November was fraudulent and the February takeover is a justification. Myanmar’s electoral commission has denied the fraud allegations.
