A UN expert criticized the US government on Wednesday for its rollback of sanctions against entities supplying weapons and other support to the Myanmar military junta, finding the move “unconscionable.”
Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews explained in his statement that the persons delisted by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have been facilitating the junta’s arms trade, such as providing aircraft, naval guns, surveillance systems, and raw materials used to manufacture weapons domestically.
Andrews explained in his statement that this military and arms support had been deployed in attacks that “likely constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes.” Such attacks included the junta’s targeting of civilians, hospitals, schools, and places of worship. Andrews condemned the US’s withdrawal of sanctions: “This is a major step backward for international efforts to save lives by restricting the murderous junta’s access to weapons. It is unconscionable to undermine these efforts by rolling back sanctions on Myanmar arms dealers and junta cronies.”
According to Andrews, the sanctions previously imposed by the US, along with those brought on by other countries, were successful in limiting the junta’s access to military equipment. Between 2023-2024, the junta’s access had fallen by more than 30 percent. The sanctions were issued under an executive order signed by then-President Joe Biden in early February 2021.
In the order, Biden had declared a national emergency due to the military coup started by the junta in Myanmar early that same month. The order granted the OFAC the ability to block the property and interests of any foreign person determined to be involved in supporting military functions or complicit in human rights abuses. The order also aimed to target the financial and logistical networks sustaining the military junta.
The US sanctions lift follows President Donald Trump’s letter to Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, sent in early July, warning him of a 40 percent levy unless a new trade deal was finalized. The military chief praised Trump’s “strong leadership” and expressed his “sincere appreciation” in response while requesting reductions in US tariffs and sanctions.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the junta for recruiting child soldiers. HRW reported that children as young as 12 years old are being used as “porters, guides, and in combat roles.” According to the UN, human rights law requires children to be 18 to be recruited and used in conflict.
