The US Campaign for Burma Expresses Alarm at the Lifting of Sanctions on Burma Cronies by the Trump Administration

On July 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control lifted sanctions against KT Services & Logistics and its founder, Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung; the MCM Group and its owner Aung Hlaing Oo; and Suntac Technologies and its owner Sit Taing Aung; as well as Tin Latt Min, who owns or controls several companies that are closely related to the Burmese junta. The U.S. Campaign for Burma finds these removals from the SDN list particularly concerning and alarming since documented reports show that the Burmese junta is only escalating and intensifying its campaigns of violence throughout the country.

This announcement comes on the heels of three Burma bills that were passed out of the House Financial Services and Foreign Affairs Committees. The passage of these bills show that there is considerable support within the House of Representatives for the people of Burma and conflicts with the removal of these entities and individuals from the SDN list. In a comment to Reuters, Representative Ami Bera (D-CA-06) responded to the removal of sanctions by citing fundamental flaws in the protection of democratic rights and freedoms, stating, “This decision goes against our values of freedom and democracy. ”

With the recent tariff letter and now the lifted sanctions, the Burmese junta and its cronies are celebrating any opening that lends credence to their legitimacy. They will certainly manipulate these actions to benefit the military regime and their baseless, factually inaccurate claims that they have any legitimate basis to rule. It will also be used to advance their agenda in their upcoming sham elections.

“These sanction removals hand the junta a propaganda victory on a silver platter—they will weaponize this decision to legitimize their brutal rule and convince the international community that they are acceptable partners, all while they continue bombing schools, hospitals, and villages across Burma. ” -Myra Dahgaypaw, USCB Board Member

For the last four years, the U.S. has led the international community in imposing sanctions against the Burmese junta and its cronies. Lifting sanctions against the Burmese junta stands to signal that the military regime is above the rule of law and will do more harm to the civilians and democracy in Burma. In order to prevent further destruction and devastation in Burma, the U.S. and the international community must cut the junta’s access to weapons, aviation fuel, and revenue, as well as hold the Burmese junta accountable for their crimes.

Media Contact

Karen Ames, Managing Director

Email: karen@uscampaignforburma.org

Phone/Signal: +1 219-381-5279

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