Death toll in Myanmar's anti-coup protests tops 500
The individuals “are all responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law” in Myanmar, and for “repressive decisions and serious human rights violations”, said the Council of EU…reports Asian Lite News
The European Union (EU) has imposed fresh sanctions on 10 individuals and two companies in Myanmar for their alleged involvement in the February 1 military coup.
The individuals “are all responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law” in Myanmar, and for “repressive decisions and serious human rights violations”, the Council of the EU said in a statement on Monday following a virtual meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Ministers.
In the statement, it said the two entities, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC), were large conglomerates “owned and controlled by the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), and provide revenue for it”.
A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD), were detained by the military on February 1.
A demonstrator stacks bags on a street as a barricade during a demonstration against the military coup and the detention of civilian leaders in Myanmar(ians)
The military had claimed that there was massive voting fraud in the country’s November 2020 general elections, which saw the NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.
The February coup has prompted widespread protests, to which soldiers have responded with a violent crackdown on the population.
Nearly 2,850 have been arrested, and at least 598 have been killed, including 48 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-profit organization.
White House said that the move included the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from the US and sanctions on several organisations and individuals…reports Asian Lite News
The US has launched diplomatic and financial offensives against Russian officials and businesses in retaliation for election-meddling and Moscow-linked hacking that compromised major federal agencies.
The move included the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from the US and sanctions on several organisations and individuals, the White House and State Department said on Thursday, DPA news agency reported.
The US government also cited Russia’s continued occupation of Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine seven years ago, and for reportedly offering bounties to militants in Afghanistan who killed US troops.
Among the expelled diplomats are five employees of Russian intelligence services.
In addition, US banks will be barred from trading in fresh Russian state debt starting on June 14, while six Russian technology companies accused of helping the state engage in malicious cyber activities were hit.
Despite the fresh sanctions, the US does not seek to escalate tensions with Russia, President Joe Biden said Thursday.
“The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia,” Biden said in brief remarks at the White House. “We want a stable, predictable relationship.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin
The White House had also stressed this earlier. “The Biden administration has been clear that the United States desires a relationship with Russia that is stable and predictable,” a White House statement read.
“We do not think that we need to continue on a negative trajectory. However, we have also been clear – publicly and privately – that we will defend our national interests and impose costs for Russian government actions that seek to harm us.”
Biden warned that “if Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions to respond”.
The list of activities the US says it wants to warn Russia against include: tampering with US elections; cyberattacks; the use of corruption to influence foreign governments; taking actions against dissidents or journalists; and violating principles of international law.
Biden has raised the stakes in his relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin of late. It has only been weeks since, during a broadcast interview, Biden responded affirmatively when asked if he thought Putin was “a killer.”
Today, we announced steps to hold the Russian Government to account for its reckless actions. We will continue to act firmly in response to Russian actions that cause harm to us or our allies and partners. pic.twitter.com/aPDqT6toqg
The US also officially named the Russian intelligence service SVR as being behind the SolarWinds attack.
The US also does not recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and has condemned its support for separatist militants in eastern Ukraine. And it has denounced Moscow for the attempted assassination of dissident Alexei Navalny in eastern Russia last year. Navalny is currently on a hunger strike in a Russian prison.
It’s a sharp change in tack out of Washington from the last four years, where the administration of Donald Trump was often seen as more friendly to the Kremlin.
Democrats routinely accused Trump of being too cosy with Putin, although Trump also expelled Russian diplomats – after the Kremlin’s alleged use of nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy in Britain.
Moscow has denied all the charges against it.
Former US President Donald Trump(IANS)
Russia summoned US Ambassador John Sullivan to Moscow’s Foreign Ministry after the White House announcement.
Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that “such aggressive behaviour will undoubtedly receive a rebuff – a response to the sanctions will be inevitable.”
The US Treasury Department said that the sanctions related to the alleged election tampering will affect 32 entities and individuals. It also said that, in coordination with Australia, Britain, Canada and the European Union, it had levied sanctions on eight individuals and entities linked to the Crimean occupation.
EU voices support
The European Union expressed solidarity with the US in the wake of Russia’s “malicious cyber activities.”
“The compromise affected governments and businesses worldwide, including in EU members,” EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said in a statement sent out on behalf of the bloc.
John J Sullivan(Wikipedia)
The United States’ 29 fellow NATO members, many of whom are in the EU, also backed Washington.
“The US and other allies assess that all available evidence points to the responsibility of the Russian Federation for the SolarWinds hack,” a joint written statement read.
Poland deemed three Russian diplomats, employees of the Russian embassy in Warsaw, as personae non gratae and expressed solidarity with the US.
The three diplomats are to be expelled as a consequence of them breaching the terms of their diplomatic status and conducting actions harmful to Poland, according to the Polish Foreign Ministry.
“Jointly made … decisions of allies are the most appropriate response to Russia’s hostile actions,” the ministry said in a statement.
A demonstrator stacks bags on a street as a barricade during a demonstration against the military coup and the detention of civilian leaders in Myanmar(ians)
Threats, pressure and using sanctions against the acting authorities in Myanmar are futile and extremely dangerous,sadi Russian foreign ministry…reports Asian Lite News
Russia on Tuesday warned against imposing sanctions on Myanmar, as the military junta continues its bloody crackdown on protests in the country since the February 1 coup.
Threats, pressure and using sanctions against the acting authorities in Myanmar are futile and extremely dangerous, dpa news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying to Interfax media outlet.
Such policies “only contribute to setting the parties against each other”, the Ministry said, adding that it would drive people into civil war.
The US, the UK, the European Union and Canada have already hit the military with a raft of sanctions.
Myanmar protests
The military seized control of the Southeast Asian country after the November 2002 general elections which former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide.
Since the coup, the military junta has violently cracked down on protests and at least 564 people have been killed, including 46 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organization.
Nearly 2,700 people are in detention, the organization said.
Last week, the UN Security Council called on the military to exercise restraint, while Washington said it was working on reacting to the military violence with more sanctions.
Russia called on the military not to interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.
At the same time, Moscow wants to continue its military cooperation, it said.
Russia’s Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin attended a military parade in Myanmar just over a week ago.A
The Chinese government on Saturday imposed sanctions on US officials in retaliation…reports Asian Lite News
The US and Canada have criticized China for retaliatory sanctions imposed by Beijing in an ongoing row over human rights.
In a coordinated move, the US, the EM, Britain and Canada on March 22 slapped sanctions on Chinese officials and entities for abuses against the mostly Muslim Uighur people, reports dpa news agency.
In a retaliatory move on Saturday, Beijing sanctioned Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Gayle Manchin; Vice Chair of the USCIRF Tony Perkins; Canadian MP Michael Chong; and the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the House of Commons of Canada, citing Washington and Ottawa’s sanctions that it said were “based on rumours and misinformation”.
The individuals will not be able to travel to China’s mainland, Hong Kong or Macao and Chinese businesses and institutions are barred from doing business with them or holding exchanges with the Canadian committee.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the move.
“Beijing’s attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights and fundamental freedoms only contribute to the growing international scrutiny of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang,” Blinken said in a statement.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the sanctions were “unacceptable actions”.
“China’s sanctions are an attack on transparency and freedom of expression – values at the heart of our democracy,” Trudeau tweeted late Saturday night.
China had already retaliated against the UK and the EU with tit-for-tat sanctions last week.
Canada prime minister Justin Trudeau.
In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified that they were held in internment camps in Xinjiang as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate the minorities.
There have been reports of torture and sexual abuse.
The Chinese government says the camps – estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017 – are “vocational education centres” to eradicate extremism and terrorism.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi signed the deal which aimed at expanding ties in the next 25 years…reports Asian Lite News
Iran and China have inked a long-term cooperation agreement in Tehran, the state television reported.
The comprehensive agreement signed on Saturday by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, aims to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields in the next 25 years, DPA news agency reported.
The agreement paves the way for billions in Chinese investment in Tehran, and in return, Iran wants to supply oil to Beijing at favourable prices. Military cooperation is also part of the plans.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in Tehran. pic.twitter.com/SToC4Jsiru
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described cooperation with China as strategic and said that the new agreement will deepen this partnership even further. “We want China to be a major trading partner,” he said during his meeting with Wang Yi on Saturday.
Iran is facing a crippling economic crisis due to sanctions imposed by the US in 2018, which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. With US President Joe Biden seemingly unwilling to lift sanctions in the short term, the government in Tehran has been aligning itself more closely with Russia and China.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has summoned British Ambassador to China to lodge solemn representations, expressing firm opposition and strong condemnation….reports Asian Lite News
China on Friday announced sanctions on relevant British individuals and entities.
According to a statement by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the UK imposed unilateral sanctions on relevant Chinese individuals and entity, citing the so-called human rights issues in Xinjiang, Xinhua news agency reported.
“This move, based on nothing but lies and disinformation, flagrantly breaches international law and basic norms governing international relations, grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs, and severely undermines China-UK relations,” said the statement.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has summoned British Ambassador to China to lodge solemn representations, expressing firm opposition and strong condemnation.
China Announces Sanctions on Relevant UK Individuals and Entities
The Chinese side decides to sanction the following nine individuals and four entities on the UK side that maliciously spread lies and disinformation: Tom Tugendhat, Iain Duncan Smith, Neil O’Brien, David Alton, Tim Loughton, Nusrat Ghani, Helena Kennedy, Geoffrey Nice, Joanne Nicola Smith Finley, China Research Group, Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, Uyghur Tribunal, and Essex Court Chambers.
“As of today, the individuals concerned and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. Their property in China will be frozen, and Chinese citizens and institutions will be prohibited from doing business with them. China reserves the right to take further measures,” said the statement.
China is firmly determined to safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and warns the UK side not go further down the wrong path. Otherwise, China will resolutely make further reactions, said the statement.
The last time the EU imposed punitive measures on Beijing for human rights violations was after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989…reports Asian Lite News
The European Union (EU) is sanctioning China for human rights abuses against the Uighur ethnic minority, an informed source from the 27-member bloc said on Monday.
The source told dpa news agency that the decision came following an agreement from the bloc’s Foreign Ministers.
The last time the EU imposed punitive measures on Beijing for human rights violations was after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
The names of the targets for measures like EU asset freezes or travel bans are due to be officially published shortly, the final step that implements sanctions, according to the source.
In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified about being held in internment camps as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate ethnic minorities.
According to the Chinese government, the camps, estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017, are “vocational education centres” to eradicate extremism and terrorism.
Also on Monday, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the Eu is set to sanction 11 individuals involved in the Myanmar military coup, as well as for the repression of the demonstrators in the country.
The EU Foreign Ministers are holding a meeting here during which they are also likely to sanction several individuals and entities from North Korea, Russia, Libya, Eritrea and South Sudan on the basis of that instrument.
Aside from endorsing sanctions, the ministers are expected to discuss the politically sensitive issues of Turkey and Russia, attempting to hash out their strategic positions to both countries.
Iran claimed that US policy of maximum pressure, adopted by former President Donald Trump’s administration, has failed and the recession in Iran is over….reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied that there has been either a direct or indirect exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington over mutual disputes, a top official said here.
“Until now, Iran hasn’t received any message, either direct or indirect, from the US administration,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.
The problem is that Washington is not willing to change the course, said Khatibzadeh, adding that the US has not taken steps to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Sanctions imposed by the former US government are still in place, and Iranian diplomats in New York City remain restricted in their movements, he noted.
US President Joe Biden
Khatibzadeh dismissed the continuation of pressure on Iran, saying that the US policy of maximum pressure, adopted by former President Donald Trump’s administration, has failed and the recession in Iran is over.
The US needs to stick to its own obligations, return to the JCPOA and lift sanctions that have been costly to the Islamic Republic, he said.
In response to the .S withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has suspended implementing parts of its obligations under the deal.
The incumbent US administration under President Joe Biden has said that if Iran returns to full compliance with the nuclear deal, Washington would do the same.
But Iran insisted its compliance would only take place once US sanctions were removed.
Blinken has slammed the Nord Stream as a Russian project intended to divide Europe.
Nord Stream 2 is a “bad deal for Germany, for Ukraine, and for our Central and Eastern European allies and partners”, said Blinken…reports Asian Lite News
The US government has threatened new sanctions against companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, urging them to pull out of the German-Russian project.
The US State Department “reiterates its warning that any entity involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline risks US sanctions and should immediately abandon work on the pipeline”, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement on Thursday.
He added that the Department is tracking efforts to complete the pipeline and “evaluating information regarding entities that appear to be involved” in the project.
The Biden administration has made clear the Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal. We continue to monitor activity and warn any entity involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will risk sanctions. We are committed to complying with the Congressional legislation in this regard.
The Secretary of State pointed to sanctions legislation passed by Congress against the project and said President Joe Biden would comply with it.
So far, the US has only imposed sanctions on the Russian company KVT-RUS, which operates the pipe-laying vessel Fortuna.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Russian President Vladimir Putin
The measures were announced by former President Donald Trump’s administration shortly before the end of its term in January.
US officials argue the pipeline, which is supposed to transport 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Russia to Germany once a year trhough the Baltic Sea, will make Europe too dependent on Russian energy supplies.
Supporters of the gas pipeline, on the other hand, have long accused the US of undermining the project in order to increase sales of their liquid gas in Europe.
