The Diplomat
European Union foreign ministers yesterday approved new sanctions against the military junta responsible for the coup in Myanmar, a decision that reflects a commitment “to democracy and human rights”, Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya said.
“Today the EU has adopted a new package of sanctions against individuals and companies linked to Myanmar’s military junta”, González Laya stated via her Twitter account. “Our commitment and solidarity with the Burmese people, with democracy and human rights”, added the minister, who participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) by videoconference.
The new sanctions target ten civilians (including Information Minister Chit Naing) and two companies, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC), for “undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar” and for their involvement in “repressive decisions and serious human rights violations,” the Council (which was chaired by EU High Representative Josep Borrell) said in a statement.
“The sanctions adopted specifically target the economic interests of Myanmar’s military regime, which is responsible for the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government”, and are “designed in such a way as to avoid undue harm to the people of Myanmar”, it continued. Apart from that, they aim to “bring about a change in the junta’s leadership” and send the message that “continuing on the current path will only bring more suffering and will never confer any legitimacy”, it added.
The sanctions, which already affect 35 individuals and two Myanmar companies, ban travel to the EU and involve a freeze on assets held in Europe. The previous FAC of March 22 sanctioned eleven other individuals in connection with the February 1 coup d’état.
