Myanmar coup: US, UK, Canada impose sanctions on senior officials on anniversary

This week marks one year since the Myanmar military overthrew the democratic government resulting in protests and a brutal crackdown. Once again, condemning the ongoing military coup, the US, UK, and Canada have imposed sanctions on some of its senior officials in response.

Some of Myanmar’s current senior officials have been sanctioned by the US, the UK, and Canada as the country marks one year since the military coup that ousted and detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the government.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned Attorney General Thida Oo, Supreme Court Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo, and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman U Tin Oo. The agency cited that the three officials were involved in the “politically motivated” prosecution of Suu Kyi. The sanctions against the three officials were also announced by the US State Department.

Thida Oo and Tin Oo also face sanctions from the UK government, as well as former military man U Thein Soe, who became the country’s election commission chair following the coup. Canada also sanctioned the same three officials as the US.

“We are coordinating these actions with the United Kingdom and Canada to demonstrate the international community’s strong support for the people of Burma and to further promote accountability for the coup and the violence perpetrated by the regime,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

“Through fear and violence, they have created division and conflict,” said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss in a statement. “The UK will always defend the right to freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. With like-minded nations, we will hold to account this suppressive, brutal regime.”

Despite the international condemnation, Myanmar’s military junta appears keen on obtaining legitimacy and has even resorted to trying to appeal to Buddhist monks. Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the junta and the coup that ousted Suu Kyi in 2021, is reportedly planning to construct the biggest sculpture of a sitting Buddha in the world. This is part of the coup leader’s possible attempt to paint himself as a protector of Buddhism.

However, Min Aung Hlaing’s possible attempt would be overshadowed by the fact that soldiers under his command killed almost 1,500 people in 2021 from the protests that ensued when the military took control. The brutal crackdown violated the first and most important tenet of Buddhism, which is to abstain from killing.