The U.S. issued fresh sanctions against people and entities linked to Myanmar’s military that seized control of the government a year ago, with President Joe Biden warning “further costs” will be imposed as long the junta doesn’t hold elections.
Seven people including Myanmar government officials and businessmen as well as a private logistics company and an army-run procurement agency were targeted. The sanctions were levied in coordination with the U.K. and Canada.
“The coup has caused immense suffering across Burma and undermined regional stability, while the leaders of the regime and their supporters seek to profit off the chaos they created.” Biden said in a statement. “As long as the regime continues to deny the people of Burma their democratic vote, we will continue to impose further costs on the military and its supporters.”
Coup leader-turned-premier Min Aung Hlaing had pledged to hold elections in August next year, defying pressure from the U.S. and Myanmar’s immediate neighbors to carry out polls much earlier.
The junta leader addressed the nation on Tuesday and defended the need for the military rule as there were 11.3 million votes cast fraudulently in the 2020 elections that civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party won by a landslide. The Election Commission previously said the polls were free and fair.
“Action is being taken against those who made the election ugly. We are now striving for a free and fair election as promised,” Min Aung Hlaing said in the broadcast as he listed out the achievements of the military government’s year in power. “Only when the situation is stable and safe, the election can be held.”
Myanmar’s generals have doubled down to suppress armed resistance from ethnic militias and pro-democracy forces since the coup. Min Aung Hlaing described the conflict in his speech as “attacks by terrorists.” He said 525 roads, 27 hospitals and 504 schools were destroyed and the military had captured over 4,300 people for acts of terrorism.
The conflict together with a widespread disobedience movement has weakened the economy with foreign investors exiting Myanmar for fear of sanctions. Rising food prices and joblessness is expected to leave nearly half the country’s 55 million population living below the national poverty line by early 2022.
Min Aung Hlaing said domestic production will be encouraged to keep the country afloat, particularly steel and cement factories. He asked Myanmar citizens to use fuel sparingly given the high import bills, saying the government was working to ensure oil security.
The military government extended the state of emergency until July 31 to prioritize state stability and peace building, the National Defense and Security Council said on Monday. Some 1,500 protesters have been killed since the military takeover, and Suu Kyi is facing six years in prison with more court verdicts to come including those on election fraud.
Under the latest U.S. sanctions, Union Attorney General Thida Oo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, and Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission Tin Oo were targeted. The U.S. also sanctioned KT Services & Logistics Company Limited and the Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services — that it says gave support to the military regime.
Individuals connected with those entities were also subject to sanctions including KT Group CEO Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung; Tay Za, a businessman and arms dealer with close ties to the junta; and his sons Htoo Htet Tay Za and Pye Phyo Tay Za.
The U.S. has led international sanctions against the regime while supporting diplomatic efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. However, Asean has struggled to get the military government to stick to a five-point consensus agreed to last year that includes stopping conflict with civilians.
Asean last year broke from longstanding rules of avoiding interference in member countries’ domestic affairs by preventing Min Aung Hlaing from attending a big-ticket summit last year. The Asean countries have stopped short of imposing sanctions for fear of destabilizing the region which has been a place of competition between the U.S. and China.
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