Irrawaddy-Oct 30
In a coordinated effort against Myanmar’s military regime, the European Union, United Kingdom, and Canada on Tuesday imposed sanctions on six individuals, including cronies and militia leaders, as well as on eight enterprises supplying funds, arms, equipment, and jet fuel to the junta. The latest international sanctions come after the regime ramped up airstrikes against civilian targets in August, killing dozens of civilians. The Canadian government blacklisted junta industry minister Charlie Than and associates Ne Aung and Win Kyaw Kyaw Aung. It also sanctioned four companies: International Group of Entrepreneurs (IGE), Swan Energy Company(SEC), Royal Shune Lei (RSL), and King Royal Technologies (KRT). The UK imposed sanctions against five companies: Asia Sun Group (ASG), SEC, Myan-Oil (MOC), Rich Ray Trading (RRT) and Progress Technology Support (PTS), aka Royal Shune Lei. Canada and the UK said the targeted individuals and enterprises had contributed to violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by the military regime. The targeted ASG is responsible for importing, storing and distributing aviation fuel essential to sustaining the junta’s aerial campaign of terror, rights group Justice for Myanmar (JFM) said on Tuesday. Swan Energy is an associate of ASG. Both companies enable and profit from the junta’s indiscriminate airstrikes and are abetting its war crimes, JFM stated. The sanctioned MOC and RRT groups are also associates of Shoon Energy, a subsidiary of ASG. PTS meanwhile supplies arms and related materials from Russia and Serbia to the regime’s military, JFM said. Blacklisted businessman Win Kyaw Kyaw Aung is the founder of Asia Sun Energy, another ASG subsidiary. His low profile in business circles made him an ideal frontman for the generals. Read more at:
