THe imposed new sanctions on the senior leaders of the military junta of Myanmar on Monday-Kann anniversary of their anniversary overthrow of the democratically elected government of the country and the imprisonment of his leader, Aung San Suu KyiField
The United States, which was joined by the United Kingdom and Canada, announced sanctions on officials who helped to pursue Aung San Su Ji, the head of the National League of Democracy. The Nobel Prize winner was arrested in February 1, 2021 RevolutionThe field of Myanmar Courts He sentenced her A total of six years of prison as of January 10, but she was ongoing additional charges.
Washington also accumulated inheritance fines Kyau Town FamilyWho New York Once It is reported that I have strong ties with the military Myanmar and helped him purchase equipment. Sanctions are also aimed at the Myanmar government agency responsible for the purchase of the military, which are known at the local level as Tatmadau.
But the activists and observers of Myanmar say that the targeted sanctions will give little to restrain the cruel regime, which is more and more isolated from the West and decided to postpone resistance to its rule with violent repression. More than 1,500 people were killed in meetings with junta Throughout the country, according to the Association of Association of Political Prisoners in the field of human rights groups.
“I think it would be fair to say that the West has few levers in Myanmar both politically and in the field after the coup,” says John Nielsen, senior analyst at the Danish Institute of International Studies and the former Danish ambassador in Myanmar.
Protesters for democracy have long called for the international community to find ways to turn off the flows of junta income. And from last year's coup several Western firms, including energy giants General energy France and Chevron From the United States – they promised to get a business out of Myanmar out of the violations of human rights in the country.
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The leader of the junta Min Aung Hlaing and other Tatmadau members were already under the sanction of the United States and other nations. Human Raits's Catch The United Nations Safety Council called on to impose on the legally binding global arms embargo on Myanmar.
But in addition to punitive measures, the Burmese exiles say that the international community should work in order to protect people suffering from the rule of the junta. The London Burmese activist and scientist Mount Zarny says that the neighboring states should open their borders for Burmese refugees who are fleeing Tatmadau.
They also fear a dialogue with military leaders in which neighboring countries, including some members of the Association of Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN). No San Lvin, co-founder of Free Rohingya Coalition, global network Rochingya -activists And the allies say that many Burmese protesters believe that such negotiations will only consolidate the legitimacy of leaders.
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But not everyone avoids Tatmadau. Russia was criticized for warming up to Myanmar after the beginning, Continuing to sell weapons And his officials visit Events under the leadership of the juntaThe China field also has a constant relationship with Myanmar, but it occupied a more ambivalent position: it urged “Reload the democratic process“In the country of Southeast Asia, interacting with Tatmadau and ethnic armed forces.“ The main goals of China in Myanmar are to ensure stability on the borders and gain access to the Indian Ocean through the economic corridor from Kunmin to Rakkhin. They will work with any side in the conflict to achieve these goals – and this is, in fact, what they do, ”says Nielsen.
Jason Tower, Director of Myanmar at the United States Institute, says that there should be a regional approach to crisis, since companies that are closely related to the junta operate in neighboring states. If the United States and allies can convince the neighbors of Myanmar, including Thailand and India, to get out of these companies, this may have a dramatic effect on money flowing to military leaders.
But the window for such an action can be closed. Cambodia seized the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022. And the Prime Minister Cambodia Hong Saint is not a friend of democracy.gave a conditional invitation to the leader of the Myanmar RevolutionThe field last year nine countries forbade the representative of Myanmar Junta From visiting his meetings.
Increasingly, many activists say that they cannot rely on the international community in order to support their restoration of the democratic government in Myanmar. They believe in the ethnic police of the minority, who have long fought with Tatmadau, and Folk forces of defense-I-armed group, consisting of members of the expelled shadow government of Myanmar and protesting pro-Democracy. “If we want to be free, we must fight for ourselves,” says Zarny.
