Burma: in the face of repression, the EU pronounces new sanctions against the junta
Protesters protecting themselves from the crackdown behind barricades in the Kale region, March 28, 2021 © via REUTERS
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4 min
The European Union on Monday sanctioned ten members of the junta in power in Burma and two companies which provide it with funding to condemn the violent repression of pro-democracy protests.
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Concretely marking its condemnation, the EU has added to its blacklist ten new members of the Burmese junta, whom the Europeans consider directly involved in decision-making and responsible as such for the weakening of the rule of law in Burma. .
The two companies sanctioned are Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC).
► Also to listen: Burma: at the heart of the protest
The principle of these new sanctions was decided on March 22, when the Europeans had sanctioned eleven people, including the general at the head of the putschists, Min Aung Hlaing.
Last week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet feared a widespread conflict like in Syria and urged states to "
take immediate, decisive and effective measures
" to force soldiers to put an end to the repression.
Repression through torture
The putschist generals face constant demonstrations to demand the return to democracy and repress this protest movement almost daily in blood. According to the Burmese association AAPP, 3,229 people are currently detained and at least 17 detainees have died under torture. In addition, arrest warrants have been issued against 930 people involved directly or indirectly in the civil disobedience movement according to the junta.
Among these people, a political science student at Rangoon University, member of a trade union. “
Some students of our union were arrested on March 3, in all 300 were arrested during a demonstration in the Tham district, in Rangoon. The vast majority were released on March 24, but our union leader is still in prison where he was tortured. Other prisoners have undergone terrible torture
, ”he testifies, at the microphone of RFI.
The political science student also assures us that “
the junta is currently making arrests in the middle of the night to put an end to the demonstrations
”.
“
They try to scare people, to instill fear in order to stop the protest.
But we won't stop, they don't scare us.
I too am on the wanted list and yet I continue to oppose the junta.
As I am the subject of an arrest warrant, I hide.
But as a member of a student union, I continue to work underground for the creation of a democratic and federal education system.
"
A summit of Asean
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his predecessor Ban Ki-moon also urged ASEAN to act to resolve the crisis during a video conference by Council leaders. security on relations between the United Nations and regional organizations. "
I urge the leaders to decide on immediate and concerted actions during the
special
summit
" on Burma of the countries of Southeast Asia scheduled for Saturday, April 24, in Jakarta, Indonesia, at which the
head of the junta must take part
, said Ban Ki-moon.
The chaotic situation since the putsch, which overthrew the civilian government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, must be discussed at the Asean summit.
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