Justice For Myanmar welcomes Canada’s latest round of sanctions on the Myanmar military, announced yesterday.

The sanctions, which are the first related to Myanmar this year, are in response to the military’s gross human rights violations and “entrenched violence, repression, instability and overall worsening crisis in Myanmar”.

Canada targeted the military, junta-controlled defence ministry and key junta individuals. It is the first time the Myanmar armed forces has been designated by any government.

Canadian sanctions extend to those under the control of sanctioned entities. This means the designation of the Myanmar armed forces covers entities such as the Directorate of Signals, which interacts with mobile operators, and the Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare, which operates television channels and newspapers.

Canada designated the 33rd Light Infantry Division (LID), which was a perpetrator of  genocide against the Rohingya in 2017 and was also deployed in the junta’s 2021 crackdown, killing peaceful protestors.

The 33rd LID is a shareholder of the military conglomerate Myanma Economic Holdings Limited, according to shareholder information leaked to Justice For Myanmar.

Individuals designated by Canada are a State Administration Council (SAC) member and junta ministers and deputy ministers.

This includes the junta’s investment and foreign economic relations minister Kan Zaw, who accompanied junta head Min Aung Hlaing to Russia in March and has been promoting business that will help finance the junta’s ongoing terror campaign.

In February, Kan Zaw signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia’s economic development minister for the construction of a port, coal-fired power plant and oil refinery in Dawei.

The junta’s three deputy transport and communications ministers were also targeted, who are responsible for implementing electronic surveillance, censorship and internet shutdowns for the junta.

Another is Moe Aung, who is a national security advisor to Min Aung Hlaing and a former head of the navy. Moe Aung is the brother of the Myanmar military crony Ne Aung, who is also sanctioned by Canada. Moe Aung and Ne Aung are the sons of Aung Thaung, now deceased, who was a minister in the former military junta and sanctioned by the US in 2014 for “perpetuating violence, oppression, and corruption”.

In its announcement, Canada stated that it “continues to urge all countries to impose similar measures. We call on the international community to suspend all operational and financial support to Myanmar’s military regime and to cease the transfer of arms, materiel, dual-use equipment and technical assistance to the regime and its agents.”

Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung says: “While Canada’s sanctions send a strong message to the junta, far more needs to be done to stop its campaign of terror.

“Its been over four years since the military’s illegal coup attempt and the junta is continuing to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity, as Myanmar people courageously resist.

“The military’s illegal coup attempt has failed as resistance has expanded its effective control, successfully establishing local administrations to govern.

“Governments need to stand with the people of Myanmar, listen to their voices and block the resources the junta needs for its commission of international crimes.

“Justice For Myanmar urges Canada and its allies to expand sanctions on the junta that target its sources of funds, arms, equipment and aviation fuel.

“To be effective, sanctions should be coordinated and target whole networks.

“The Myanmar military and its cartel must be dismantled.”

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More information:

Read Canada’s announcement here.

Those sanctioned by Canada on March 7:

Entities

1. Armed Forces of Myanmar
2. Junta Ministry of Defence
3. 33rd Light Infantry Division

Individuals

1. SAC member Ba Shwe
2. Junta Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Kan Zaw
3. Minster 2 at Office of Chairman of the SAC Ko Ko Hlaing
4. Junta deputy minister for transport and communications Brigadier General Lu Mon
5. Junta deputy minister for transport and communications Aung Kyaw Tun
6. Junta deputy minister for transport and communications Aung Myaing
7. Junta deputy defence minister Major-General Ko Lay
8. Junta deputy planning and finance minister Than Than Linn
9. Junta deputy planning and finance minister Min Htut
10. Junta minister for Ethnic Affairs Khun Thant Zaw Htoo
11. Minster 1 at Office of Chairman of the SAC Admiral Moe Aung
12. Deputy Minster 3 at Office of Chairman of theSAC Htin Kyaw Thu
13. Minster 4 at Office of Chairman of the SAC Aung Kyaw Hoe

Download press release in English | Myanmar