US increases pressure on Myanmar military in fresh sanctions

The United States on Friday increased pressure on Myanmar's junta in response to the February military coup, adding four companies it said support the military to its trade blacklist and imposing sanctions on key military officials.

The US Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on seven key members of the military, which it accused of using lethal force against protesters, as it warned that the United States would continue to impose costs on the military.

Among those targeted are members of the State Administrative Council, the Minister for Information and other officials accused of repressing opponents of military rule.

"Today's action demonstrates that the United States will continue to impose increasing costs on Burma's military and promote accountability for those responsible for the military coup and ongoing violence, including by targeting sources of revenue for the military and its leaders," Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in the statement.

The Treasury also designated 15 family members of previously designated Myanmar military officials.

The new entities affected by trade restrictions are involved in copper mining and satellite services, according to a US government posting.

They are Wanbao Mining Ltd. and its two subsidiaries, Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper, Ltd. and Myanmar Yang Tse Copper, Ltd., as well as King Royal Technologies Co., Ltd., the posting by the US Department of Commerce said.

The listings address foreign policy and national security concerns and support the US efforts "to promote an immediate return to democracy in Burma," the posting said.

The three copper mining-related companies have revenue-sharing agreements with Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, which provides revenue for the country's Ministry of Defense, which was responsible for the military coup, the posting said.

The listing is an effort to ensure that items subject to US export regulations are not available for copper mining operations by the companies, the Commerce Department said.

King Royal Technologies, a telecommunications company, was added for providing satellite communication services in support of the military, the posting said.

US exports to companies placed on the Commerce Department's trade blacklist, formally known as the entity list, are restricted.

The moves follow earlier measures by the United States, which along with other Western nations has led condemnation of the military since it took power alleging fraud in an election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party in November. Its allegations of irregularities were rejected by the electoral commission.