USCIRF Applauds Sanctions against Senior Burmese Military Officials

Dec 11, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2019

USCIRF Applauds Sanctions against Senior Burmese Military Officials

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the Department of Treasury’s designation of senior Burmese military officials for sanctions under Executive Order 13818 and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, due to their individual roles in mass atrocities in Rakhine, Kachin, and Shan states. Designated individuals include Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese military; Soe Win, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese military; Than Oo, a leader of the 99th Light Infantry Division in Rakhine State; and Aung Aung, a leader of the 33rd Light Infantry Division in Rakhine State.

USCIRF has long highlighted the Burmese military’s violations of religious freedom and mass violence against vulnerable communities and the importance of holding those responsible to account. These designations, which USCIRF had recommended, represent an important step forward in finding justice for the Rohingya and other persecuted groups,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza.

We applaud the Department of Treasury for sanctioning Burmese military leaders on International Human Rights Day for atrocities that USCIRF believes constitute crimes against humanity and genocide. Under their command, Burmese military forces committed egregious acts of violence – including extrajudicial killings, rape, and forced disappearances – and displaced millions from their homeland,” stated USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava.

In its 2019 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the State Department continue to designate Burma as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act due to systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom. Among its policy recommendations, USCIRF urged the U.S. government “to impose targeted sanctions on members of Burma’s military, security forces, and non-state actors for severe human rights and religious freedom violations.”

 

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or call 202-523-3240.