On Monday 25 June, the Council of the EU took out sanctions on seven army (Tatmadaw), border guard and police officials from Burma/Myanmar because of their involvement in or association with "atrocities and serious human rights violations committed against the Rohingya population in Rakhine State" in the second half of 2017.
These violations include unlawful killings, sexual violence and the systematic burning of Rohingya houses and buildings.
The officers, whose names were published in the Official Journal of the EU (L 601) the same day, are subject to an assets freeze and travel ban in the EU.
Brigadiers General Than Oo and Aung Aung, as well as Majors General Maung Maung Soe and Khin Maung Soe, are subject to sanctions because their divisions committed atrocities and violations. Commander of the Bureau of Special Operations No. 3 of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), Aung Kyaw Zaw, is also subject to measures, as is former Commander of the Border Guard Police,Thura San Lwin, and Commander of the 8th Security Police Battalion, Thant Zin Oo.
"The Council will monitor the situation in Myanmar/Burma closely and will keep its decision under constant review, including the possibility of further targeted restrictive measures", the Council stated in a press release. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)