EU sanctions senior officials in Myanmar and Venezuela over human rights violations

The EU Council has announced sanctions against a number of Burmese and Venezuelan officials (25 June).

Seven officials from the Burmese army (Tatmadaaw), border guard and police officials were sanctioned over ‘atrocities’ and ‘serious human rights violations’ against the Rohingya people in Rakhine state. The violations include ‘unlawful killings, sexual violence and the systematic burning of the Rohingya houses and buildings.’

The EU has already imposed an arms embargo on Myanmar as well as on the export of dual-use items for use by the military and border police, the export of equipment for monitoring communications that might be used for internal repression and prohibited the provision of military training or military cooperation with the Burmese army.

On the same day, the Council announced that 11 Venezuelan officials would be sanctioned for ‘human rights violations’ and for ‘undermining democracy and the rule of law’ in connection with the elections held in Venezuela on 20 May which, the Council declared were ‘neither free nor fair’.

For the EU press release on Venezuela see:
www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/25/venezuela-eu-adds-11-officials-to-sanctions-list/?utm_source=dsms-auto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Venezuela%3a+EU+adds+11+officials+to+sanctions+list

For the EU press release on Myanmar see:
dsms.consilium.europa.eu/952/Actions/Newsletter.aspx?messageid=23037&customerid=42660&password=enc_374E664D5150613574553136_enc