US, Canada and Australia impose new sanctions on Myanmar

Washington will impose sanctions on the Union Election Commission, mining companies, energy officials and current and former military officials, the statement said. The action will be coordinated with Great Britain, Canada and Australia.

Canada and Australia imposed new sanctions on Tuesday.

Myanmar’s top generals staged a coup in February 2021 after five years of tense power-sharing under a quasi-civilian political system created by the military.

The country has since been plunged into chaos, with a resistance movement fighting the army on several fronts following a bloody crackdown on opponents that saw Western sanctions reimposed.

Today’s US action targets the director and deputy director of state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), the largest state-owned revenue-generating company, according to the Treasury Department statement. .

Human rights activists have called for sanctions against Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise. The sector remains an important source of income for the junta.

Union Energy Minister Myo Myint Oo, who, according to the Ministry of Finance, represents the Myanmar government in international and national agreements in the energy sector and leads state-owned companies involved in production and the export of oil and gas, will be designated.

Mining Enterprise No 1 and Mining Enterprise No 2, both state-owned companies, and the Union Election Commission will also face sanctions.

The army has promised to hold elections in August this year. On Friday, the junta announced strict requirements for parties wishing to contest the elections, including a massive increase in their membership.