Britain sanctions Myanmar generals over coup

An anti-coup rally in Bagan, Myanmar,  on Thursday

Credit: An anti-coup rally in Bagan, Myanmar, on Thursday

Britain has imposed targeted sanctions on three senior figures in Myanmar’s ruling military junta, and axed support programmes in retaliation for the February 1 coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government. 

General Mya Tun Oo, The Minister of Defence,  Lt General Soe Htut, the minister for home affairs, and Lt General Than Hlaing, the  deputy minister of home affairs, were slapped with travel bans and asset freezes on Thursday afternoon in a move coordinated by the UK and Canada. 

Dominic Raab, the Foreign Secretary, said: “The UK condemns the military coup and the arbitrary detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political figures.  

“We, alongside our international allies, will hold the Myanmar military to account for their violations of human rights and pursue justice for the Myanmar people.”

The three generals were targeted for involvement in human rights abuses perpetrated by the country’s military and police force since the coup. They join 16 other figures, including armed forces chief and junta leader Min Aung Hliang, who are already subject to UK sanctions.  

The Foreign Office said it had also halted support for government-led reforms and will close planned programmes. UK authorities will also launch an "enhanced due diligence process" to seek and shut down Myanmar military-owned companies doing business in the UK and associated illicit money flows. 

Critical aid programmes including those support health care will continue. 

Ms Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s state counsellor and de-facto civilian leader, and her ally Win Myint, the president, were arrested overnight on February 1.

The military claimed that the pair had failed to investigate allegations of fraud during a general election that their National League for Democracy won by a landslide. 

Myanmar has seen daily protests against the coup in multiple cities over the past two weeks.