The United States imposed sanctions against five individuals and five entities connected to Burma’s military regime after concluding the Burmese military committed genocide, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing against Rohingya.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated the Burmese leaders and groups for reportedly committing numerous atrocities against the people of Burma, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a news statement March 25.
“Brutality and oppression have become trademarks of the Burmese military regime’s rule,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in a March 25 Treasury Department news release.
Members of the 66th Light Infantry Division have been accused of carrying out the Christmas Eve massacre in 2021, where civilians in Pyay and Hpruso townships of Karen State were captured, tortured and killed, according to the release. Women, children, and humanitarian workers were listed among the casualties in multiple reports, the release said.
“I recently announced the United States’ determination that members of the Burmese military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya, most of whom are Muslim,” Blinken said. “We also recognize that, for decades, the Burmese military has killed, raped and committed other atrocities against members of other ethnic and religious minority groups.”
He said many of those military members remain in power today, according to the statement.
