After the coup in Burma, new international sanctions.

Several generals of the Burmese junta are targeted by sanctions announced Thursday, January 18, by the United Kingdom, which is joined by Canada.

This concerns the Minister of Defense, Mya Tun Oo, the Minister of the Interior, Soe Htut, and his deputy, Than Hlaing.

The three generals see their assets in the United Kingdom frozen and are banned from staying on British territory, the British Foreign Office said in a statement. 

These measures bring to 19 the number of Burmese personalities sanctioned by London. 

Arguing of fraud in legislative elections largely won in November by the party of the de facto head of the civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese army ousted the latter on February 1, in a coup that provoked harshly repressed protests.

Prevent British aid from "supporting" the junta

"Together with our allies, we hold the military to account for their human rights violations and for justice to be done for the Burmese people," said British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab.

The British Foreign Office and International Trade Department have also launched a "process to reduce the risk of (Burmese) military companies operating in the UK", wanting to avoid "the illicit cash flows associated with it. ".

London also promised that "additional safeguards" would be put in place to prevent British aid to Burma "from indirectly supporting the military-led government." 

While welcoming "a step forward", the Burma Campaign UK association "expressed its disappointment" at the sanctions taken by London, arguing that it was "nothing more than a holiday ban", since " these military leaders have no assets to freeze in the UK. "

The "Quad" calls for an "urgent" return to democracy

The United States also called Thursday, jointly with India, Japan and Australia, for an "urgent" return to democracy in Burma, said the US State Department after discussions between the four countries. .

The head of the American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, during his first talks with this alliance dubbed "Quad" - an informal strategic grouping initiated in 2007 -, spoke of "the urgent need to restore the democratically elected government in Burma", declared his spokesperson, Ned Price.

He also underlined the need to give "priority to strengthening democratic resilience in the region on a larger scale".

Japan, for its part, indicated that its foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, "urged the Burma army to immediately cease its violent response to civilians" demonstrating against the coup and to release Aung San Suu Kyi.

India, which has distanced itself from Western efforts to impose new sanctions on Burma, has been more cautious in its statement on the Quad talks, saying its foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, had put emphasis on "respect for the rule of law and democratic transition".

With AFP

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