Published2 September 2021

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announces new sanctions against U Tay Za and Htoo Group of Companies.

• these sanctions target a key business associate of the military junta, and his network of companies for providing financial support and arms to the military
• this move follows sanctions on senior Myanmar military officers and their associated businesses following February’s military coup

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has announced new sanctions today against Myanmar businessman U Tay Za and his business empire Htoo Group.

Htoo Group of Companies, of which U Tay Za is the founder and chairman, is a large business network that operates across the region, which contributed funds to the 2017 Rohingya clearance operations in Rakhine. U Tay Za is associated with the military through his extensive links with the former and current junta regimes and has provided support for serious human rights violations in his role in assisting the military to procure arms.

These sanctions make clear that the UK will take concrete measures to limit the junta’s access to finance and economic resources, including by targeting business networks associated with the military regime.

Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, said:

The military junta has shown no signs of halting its brutal attack on the people of Myanmar.

Along with our partners, the UK will continue to restrict the junta’s access to finance and the supply of arms used to kill innocents, including children, and target those who support the junta’s actions.

Enforced with immediate effect, sanctions will freeze all UK assets held by Htoo Group and U Tay Za, as well as banning the business tycoon from entering the UK. Sanctions will also block others from providing funds or economic resources to both those designated.

These sanctions follow recent efforts to ensure that the supply of arms to Myanmar is halted, and follow on from the Communiqué the UK secured at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, that committed members to prevent the supply of arms and technical assistance to the military. In addition, on 18 June, the UK worked with partners to deliver a UN General Assembly Resolution which urged member states to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar.

Under the UK’s presidency the G7 continues to call for a return to democracy, an end to the violence and the immediate adoption of the ASEAN 5-point consensus, including the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners.

Background

Links to previous Myanmar sanctions announcements:

• 21 June: UK announces sanctions on the Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Myanmar Pearl Enterprise and the State Administration Council
• 17 May: UK announces sanctions on gemstone company linked to the military regime in Myanmar
• 1 April: UK announces further sanctions on Myanmar military-linked companies
• 25 March: UK sanctions major military business interests in further measures against Myanmar military regime
• 25 February: UK sanctions further Myanmar military figures for role in coup
• 18 February: UK sanctions Myanmar military generals for serious human rights violations