US Imposes Sanctions on 2 More Myanmar Junta Leaders
Desk Report
Published: 23 Feb 2021, 11:41 am
On Monday, the United States announced sanctions against two more leaders of Myanmar's junta and cautioned against further action as hundreds of thousands defiantly marched to restore democracy to the country.
The United States has announced that it is blocking any US property and suspending the entry into the country of two members of the newly formed State Administrative Council—General Maung Maung Kyaw, who commands the air force, and Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, reports NDTV.
"We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people. We will not waver in our support for the people of Burma," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, using Myanmar's former name.
"We call on the military and police to cease all attacks on peaceful protesters, immediately release all those unjustly detained, stop attacks on and intimidation of journalists and activists and restore the democratically elected government," he said in a statement.
The announcement comes hours after the European Union has also accepted sanctions on Myanmar's military, raising international pressure on the coup of 1 February, in which the generals overthrew the democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The junta warned that it was able to use excessive force to crush the increasingly massive protests after demonstrators were shot dead on the weekend.
The United States has already imposed sanctions on other top figures including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the military chief and new ruler of the country.