The Council today
adopted a fourth round of sanctions in view of the continuing grave situation
and of intensifying human rights violations in Myanmar/Burma, following the
military coup in the country on 1 February 2021.
The
new listings target 22 persons and 4 entities, including government ministers, a
member of the State
Administrative Council and members of the Union Election Commission,
as well as high-ranking members of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw). As regards
the sanctioned entities, these are either state-owned companies providing
substantive resources to the Tatmadaw, or private companies closely connected to
the Tatmadaw's top leadership. These companies are Htoo Group, IGE
(International Group of Enterpreneurs), Mining Enterprise 1 (ME 1) and Myanma
Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).
Restrictive
measures now apply to a total
of 65 individuals and 10 entities, and include an asset freeze and
a prohibition from
making funds available to the listed individuals and
entities. In addition, a travel
ban applicable to the listed persons prevents these from
entering or transiting through EU territory.
Existing
EU restrictive measures also remain in place. These comprise an embargo on arms and equipment that
can be used for internal repression, an export ban on dual-use goods for use
by the military and border guard police, export restrictions on equipment for
monitoring communications that could be used for internal repression, and
a prohibition on
military training for and military cooperation with the
Tatmadaw.
The
restrictive measures come in addition to the withholding of EU financial
assistance directly going to the government and the freezing of all EU assistance that
may be seen as legitimising the junta.
The
European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in
Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional
implications. Since
the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated.
As
a matter of priority, the EU reiterates its calls for an immediate cessation of
all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state
of emergency. The European Union will continue to provide humanitarian
assistance, in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality,
impartiality and independence. The EU reiterates its call for the full and
immediate respect of international humanitarian law.
The
relevant legal acts, including the names of the persons concerned, will be
published in the Official Journal.
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