MYANMAR: EU Extends Myanmar Junta Sanctions for Another Year

Posted by Asia Views | May 2, 2024 | 0 |

Mizzima-May 1, 2024

The European Union (EU) announced on 26 April 2024 that sanctions on organisations and people associated with the Myanmar junta would be extended for another year. Sanctions that currently apply to a total of 103 individuals and 21 entities including Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and Acting Vice-President Myint Swe have been prolonged for a further year until 30 April 2025. The decision was based on an annual review of sanctions which decided to keep all restrictions in place due to the continuing grave situation in Myanmar, including actions that undermine democracy, as well as serious human rights violations. Those under sanctions are subject to asset freezes and providing them with funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, is prohibited. They are also banned from travelling to any EU countries.

Other EU restrictions still in place include embargoes on arms and equipment, including anything that has a dual use for both civilian and military applications, and export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications which might be used for internal repression. Any training of and cooperation with the Myanmar Armed Forces is also banned. The EU is also withholding all EU financial assistance that goes directly to the Myanmar junta or that may be seen to be legitimizing the junta.

In its statement the EU renewed its condemnation of the of the military coup and its aftermath in Myanmar and said that it remains deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the protracted nature of the conflict in Myanmar. Amongst the organizations included on the EU sanctions list renewal are: The military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (MEHL), Myanmar Gems Enterprise, Myanmar Timber Enterprise, and the Veterans Organization, along with private companies such as Htoo Group, IGE Company, Asia Sun Group, Dynasty International Group, Royal Shune Lei and Sky Aviation Star Sapphire. Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), No. 1 and 2 Mining Corporation, the Office of Adjutant General, Directorate of Defense Industries, Directorate of Military Procurement also had sanctions against them renewed. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2024/05/01/9480

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EXTRICATING NDONESIAN CHILDREN FROM ISIS INFLUENCE ABROAD

Indonesia urgently needs to revisit the possibility of repatriating the neediest of its young citizens stranded abroad, whose families had earlier joined ISIS. Most of these children are in camps in northern Syria but there are also small numbers in the Philippines, Afghanistan and Iraq. “Extricating Indonesian Children from ISIS Influence Abroad”, the latest report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) argues that the government could begin by bringing back small groups of unaccompanied children under ten years of age, who pose minimal security risk and are most vulnerable to deteriorating conditions in the camps.“The problem is that health and security conditions are worsening by the day in the Syrian camps, and the children are growing older,” says Dyah Kartika, IPAC analyst. “They need access to schools, a nurturing environment, and medical attention. If the government waits too long, the children will be further exposed to ISIS ideology.” The new report examines a 2019 list of Indonesians in camps and prisons run by the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The Indonesian government has been trying to verify their citizenship, but with pseudonyms, misspellings and bad transliterations, it is a daunting task. At the time the data was collected, between March and June 2019, there were 555 Indonesians in SDF camps and prisons, including 367 children. Among the children, approximately 277 were under the age of ten and 34 were unaccompanied. In June 2021, there are fewer than ten children who are both unaccompanied and under the age of ten that could be prioritized for return. Bringing back children of ISIS families is no easy task. The report analyses the main challenges faced by the Indonesian government. These include definitional issues, bureaucratic competition, the difficulty of verifying nationality, evaluating the toll of exposure to conflict, assessing security risk, and finding relatives or others willing to provide care once the children are returned. In addition, COVID has meant stringent restrictions on travel, placing further obstacles in the way of repatriation. There are several models for rehabilitation of children exposed to violent extremism in Indonesia that could be modified to accommodate the needs of children repatriated from abroad. The report examines these models and argues that the government does not need to have every detail of rehabilitation programs in place before it starts extricating children from ISIS influence. It can start by bringing back the most vulnerable children and then modify programs as needed.

“It’s important that the government see these children as victims” says Dyah. “They deserve a chance to be children again.”

MYANMAR: EU Extends Myanmar Junta Sanctions for Another Year

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