2LT International News

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. on Friday sanctioned 22 people in Myanmar, including fifteen children and spouses of military officials deemed to be corrupt.

Wanbao Mining, Ltd., and King Royal Technologies have also been targeted by the U.S. Department of Commerce for providing financial support to the military in Myanmar (also known as Burma). Wanbao has additionally been implicated in labor rights violations and human rights abuses, including at the Letpadaung copper mine.

“In response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Assets Control is designating today 22 individuals connected to the regime, pursuant to Executive Order 14014 “Blocking Property With Respect to the Situation in Burma.” These include three additional State Administration Council (SAC) members and four military-appointed cabinet members, as well as 15 adult children or spouses of previously designated Burmese military officials whose financial networks have contributed to military officials’ ill-gotten gains,” the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement released on Friday.

“In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce is adding Wanbao Mining, Ltd., two of its subsidiaries, and King Royal Technologies to its Entity List. These entities provide revenue and/or other support to the Burmese military, and Wanbao Mining and its subsidiaries have long been implicated in labor rights violations and human rights abuses, including at the Letpadaung copper mine.”

“Today’s measures further demonstrate that we will continue to take additional action against, and impose costs on, the military and its leaders until they reverse course and provide for a return to democracy,” Blinken said.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury confirmed the names of the individuals and entities designated, in a statement released on Friday.

The statement named the following seven individuals, who are members of Myanmar’s military regime, that have been designated pursuant to E.O. 14014 for being foreign persons who are, or were leaders or officials of the government of Myanmar on or after February 2, 2021:

• Saw Daniel, Banyar Aung Moe, and Aye Nu Sein – members of the State Administrative Council (SAC), the body created by the military on February 2, 2021, to support its overthrow of the democratically elected civilian government;
• Chit Naing – the Minister for Information;
• Aung Naing Oo – the Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations;
• Myint Kyaing – the Minister for Labor, Immigration, and Population; and
• Thet Thet Khine – the Minister of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement.

In addition to those government leaders and ministers, the following 15 individuals were designated pursuant to E.O. 14014 for being a spouse or adult child of a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14014.

• Kyu Kyu Hla is the spouse of SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Than Than Nwe is the spouse of SAC Vice Chairman Vice Senior General Soe Win, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Thet Thet Aung is the spouse of SAC member General Mya Tun Oo, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Than Than Aye is the spouse of SAC member Admiral Tin Aung San, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Aung Mar Myint is the spouse of SAC member General Maung Maung Kyaw, whom Treasury designated on February 22, 2021;
• Khaing Pa Pa Chit is the spouse of SAC member Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, whom Treasury designated on February 22, 2021;
• Moe Htet Htet Tun is the adult child of Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun;
• Khaing Moe Myint is the adult child of Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun;
• Yadanar Moe Myint is the adult child of Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun;
• Daw Nilar is the spouse of SAC member Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Theit Thinzar Ye is the adult child of Lieutenant General Ye Win Oo;
• Ohn Mar Myint is the spouse of SAC member Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe, whom Treasury designated on February 11, 2021;
• Shwe Ye Phu Aung is the adult child of Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe;
• Hlaing Bwar Aung is the adult child of Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe; and
• Phyo Arkar Aung is the adult child of Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe.

“As a result of today’s OFAC action, all property and interests in property of the persons named above that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked,” the Treasury Department said in Friday’s statement.

“Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt, all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person,” the statement said.