The Ministry of International Cooperation welcomes the fresh wave of sanctions released by the Council of the European Union. These new sanctions target twenty-two additional individuals (members of State Administrative Council and military appointed members of the Union Election Commission) and four entities (Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), No.1 Mining Enterprise (ME 1), International Group of Entrepreneurs (IGE) and Htoo Group of Companies).

These new sanctions are significant as MOGE is now being sanctioned for the first time in history. MOGE has been one of the most important sources of funding for the junta and the atrocities and war crimes it commits against its own civilians. The military have no political legitimacy. In a desperate attempt to cling to power they use heavy weapons, artillery and air strikes in many areas of the country, indiscriminately targeting civilians and villages. Coordinated and targeted sanctions such as these are necessary to cut off the flow of money and arms to the military regime.

We are grateful for the work of the EU in placing these important sanctions to slow the military’s finances, and along with them, the military’s capacity to acquire the arms and materiel they need to continue their campaign of terror and repression. We are hopeful that further targeted sanctions will follow, particularly to cut off the military’s access to aviation fuel, and we hope that more countries follow the EU’s example.

Let us reiterate that we need coordinated global action now, not later. The military is committing brutal war crimes, human rights violations, systematic torture and every form of violence against the civilian population daily, and they show no signs of slowing voluntarily. The military must be cut off from the tools of their bloody trade. For the sake of Myanmar and her people we once again request that all governments and the international community follow the example set by the EU and immediately place aggressive, targeted sanctions on the military regime and those who support and supply them.

Sincerely,

H.E. Dr. Sasa
Union Minister of Ministry of International Cooperation
Spoke Person of Nation Unity Government
Former Special Envoy to United Nations