US sanctions Myanmar's ruling junta, top military officials

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday sanctioned over a dozen top Myanmar junta officials, as well as the government structure the military created following February's coup.

The military's State Administrative Council (SAC) was blacklisted alongside nine ministers, including those of Commerce, Ethnic Affairs and Border Control, the Treasury and State Department announced in separate statements. Than Nyein, the Central Bank's governor, was also sanctioned.

In all, 16 individuals are being sanctioned, including four members of the SAC, and three adult children of military officials that were previously sanctioned.

"Our actions today underscore our resolve and that of our partners to apply political and financial pressure on the regime as long as it fails to stop violence and take meaningful action to respect the will of the people," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the military regime has thus far refused to cooperate in a constructive manner and has made no attempt to restore Burma on the path to democracy, while continuing its brutal repression and violence against its people," he added.

Myanmar's military has launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters after it seized power from the country's democratically-elected government on Feb. 1. In all, 802 people have been killed and 4,120 have been arrested during the junta's violent repression, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitor group.