UK sanctions Myanmar’s military-owned businesses

LONDON (AA) - Britain on Thursday announced sanctions targeting the Myanmar military's financial interests.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has announced further measures targeting the Myanmar military regime today, "sanctioning military-owned conglomerate Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd for its involvement in serious human rights violations against the Rohingya and its association with senior military figures," a statement from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.

Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) is a military conglomerate owned by parts of the armed forces, and current and former military officers, according to the statement.

"The designation is in response to evidence that MEHL contributed funds to support the country’s armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, in their campaign on ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya in 2017, having reasonable cause to suspect that the funds would or may contribute to the serious human rights violations committed and that MEHL is associated with the Commander in Chief and Deputy Commander in Chief.

"Today’s sanctions target the military’s financial interests to help drain the sources of finance for their campaigns of repression against civilians," Raab said.
Raab wrote on Twitter that the UK acted alongside the US.

"Today US @SecBlinken and I have announced new sanctions which target Myanmar military business interests," he wrote.

"The UK and our partners will not hesitate to take action against a regime that has caused so much pain to so many innocent civilians," he added.

The newly announced sanctions followed last month’s sanctions against 9 individuals who are thought to be "directly responsible for human rights violations committed by the police and military during the coup in Myanmar, as well as the State Administration Council, which was set up following the coup to exercise the functions of the state."