Europe’s foreign ministers warned they could impose sanctions on Myanmar military, according to a joint statement released after their meeting in Brussels on Monday.
“The EU stands ready to adopt restrictive measures targeting those directly responsible for the military coup and their economic interests,” their joint statement reads.
Stressing that the bloc stands with the Burmese people, they stressed that the EU will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and will also ensure that it will avoid measures that could affect the people of Myanmar/Burma, especially the most vulnerable ones.
Myanmar’s military seized power and declared a state of emergency for one year on February 1, 2021. The bloc’s foreign ministers have called for the immediate release of the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, as well as of those who have been detained or arrested in connection with the coup. They also condemned the coup in the strongest terms and called for perpetrators to be held to account.
“Not only should authorities exercise maximum restraint, but all sides should refrain from violence,” their statement further reads.
In the meantime, the US have sanctioned two more generals linked to the country’s first coup since 1988. The restrictive measures by the US Treasury Department target Moe Myint Tun and Maung Maung Kyaw in response to the killing of peaceful protesters.