The UK announced new sanctions against the Myanmar military for their continued suppression of the civilian population and for serious human rights violations.

• on International Human Rights Day, the UK announces new sanctions against the Myanmar military for their role in serious human rights violations against civilians
• sanctions made in coordination with US and Canada
• the UK has also sanctioned a former commander in the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who helped orchestrate a 2017 bombing in Pakistan

The UK has today (10 December 2021) announced new sanctions against the Myanmar military for their continued suppression of the civilian population and for serious human rights violations.

The sanctions, announced alongside the US and Canada, demonstrate the UK’s staunch commitment to hold Myanmar’s military accountable for human rights violations and our resolve to act, together with our partners, to limit its access to arms, equipment and funding.

The UK has also sanctioned Furqan Bangalzai, a former commander in the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, who helped orchestrate the 2017 bombing of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Pakistan. Designating Bangalzai for his role in the attack, in which more than 70 Sufi worshipers were killed, reinforces the UK’s commitment to defending religious freedom where minority faith groups face persecution.

Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia, the UN, and the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict said:

The sanctions made today target some of the most callous violations and abuses of human rights, including cases where civilians suffer unrelenting state repression and worshippers have been targeted and killed for their religious beliefs.

The UK will always be a fierce champion of human rights and we will work with our fellow democracies and partners, as a network of liberty, to hold to account those who deny these fundamental freedoms.

The UK will impose travel bans and asset freezes pursuant to the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 and the Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 respectively on those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses and those responsible for undermining fundamental rights and liberties.

The designations made under the Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 are:

• the Quarter Master General’s Office, which plays a crucial role in procuring equipment for the Myanmar Armed Forces and is responsible for overseeing a campaign of violence and human rights violations across Myanmar
• the Directorate for Defence Industries, a state-owned enterprise that has manufactured weapons and technology used by the Myanmar military
• the Directorate for Defence Procurement, responsible for buying arms from abroad used by the Myanmar military to undermine democracy and violate fundamental rights of the civilian population
• the Myanmar War Veterans Organisation, a quasi-reserve force for the Myanmar military which has publicly supported the military’s undermining of democracy, violation of human rights, and repression of the civilian population

The individual designated under the Global Human Rights Sanctions regime today is:

• Furqan Bangalzai, a former commander in the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, for his role in the 2017 bombing of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan, Pakistan which killed 70 people

Today’s announcement ensures this individual cannot freely travel to the UK, channel money through UK banks or profit from the UK economy.

Background: full list of designations today

Under the Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021

• the Quarter Master General’s Office
• the Directorate for Defence Industries, a state-owned enterprise
• the Directorate for Defence Procurement.
• the Myanmar War Veterans Organisation, a quasi-reserve force for the Myanmar military

Under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020

• Furqan Bangalzai; a former commander in the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Jhangvi