US, UK slap sanctions on firms controlled by Myanmar’s military

The United States and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on conglomerates controlled by Myanmar’s military on Thursday, following the Burmese generals’ February 1 coup and deadly crackdown, with Washington calling the move a response to “abhorrent violence and abuses”.

The US Department of the Treasury said its sanctions targeted Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Ltd (MEC).

The UK imposed similar sanctions on MEHL, citing the Myanmar military’s serious human rights violations against Rohingya Muslims.

Representatives for the two entities, which control big sections of the Myanmar economy, had no immediate comment.

Thursday’s actions were the most significant by far against the business interests of Myanmar’s military, which range from beer and cigarettes to telecommunications, tyres, mining and real estate.

Shortly after the announcement, the US State Department condemned the continued use of lethal force by authorities in Myanmar over the weekend that resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people, including several children.

“These abhorrent and brutal acts against children, one as young as seven years old who was shot and killed in her home while sitting on her father’s lap, further demonstrate the horrific nature of the Burmese military regime’s assault on its own people,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Washington’s move freezes any assets held by the entities in the US and is the latest in a series of sanctions following the military takeover that have targeted Myanmar’s central bank as well as top generals.

The designation prohibits US companies or citizens from trading or conducting financial transactions with those listed.

Since almost all dollar payments clear through US financial institutions, the move effectively kicks blacklisted companies out of the US banking system.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Myanmar military “have taken increasingly disturbing actions aimed at their own citizens since February 1”.

“These actions will specifically target those who led the coup, the economic interests of the military, and the funding streams supporting the Burmese military’s brutal repression,” he said. “They are not directed at the people of Burma.”

“The United States and the UK have shown that we will follow through on our pledges to promote accountability for the coup and the abhorrent violence and other abuses we have seen in recent weeks,” Blinken said.

At a US Senate hearing, Senator Ed Markey, Democratic chairman of the Asia subcommittee, said he welcomed the latest sanctions but called for more.

“More must be done to deny the army its economic lifeline and to deny it the weapons of war. The United States should play a leading role in urging our partners and allies, including members of ASEAN, to take steps to cut off funding for the military,” he said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Human rights groups welcomed the US move but also urged more steps.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the sanctions would create significant difficulties for the conglomerates in doing business with outside companies.

“This is a very important step but it is not the biggest economic sanction that could be implemented,” said HRW’s Asia advocacy director, John Sifton, adding that Washington should also target Myanmar’s revenues from natural gas joint ventures with international companies.

Global Witness urged the European Union to also impose sanctions on the military’s business interests and said the UK should follow the US in targeting MEC.

In announcing the sanctions, the US issued several licences providing exemptions for official US government transactions and those of international and non-governmental organisations. One license authorised transactions necessary to wind down business involving MEC and MEHL – or any entity they own – until June 22.