PRESS RELEASE : Myanmar Armed Forces Day – UK announces fresh sanctions on aviation fuel and military equipment suppliers [March 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 27 March 2023.

A new round of UK sanctions will target suppliers to the Myanmar regime of military equipment and other material, which are still being used to attack its civilians.

• UK announces further sanctions against prominent arms dealer and aviation fuel suppliers in Myanmar.
• Sanctions to target enablers of air force bombing campaign against civilian population.
• Announcement comes as Myanmar marks its annual Armed Forces Day.

A new round of UK sanctions will target suppliers to the Myanmar regime of military equipment and other material, which are still being used to attack its civilians.

Those sanctioned today include a company and its director who supply the Myanmar Air Forces with aviation fuel and a second individual who is the director of a company which supplies restricted goods and technology through its business.

On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military overthrew the democratically-elected government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and installed a military regime. Since then, they have used violence and atrocities to maintain power and suppress any opposition voices.

Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said:

On Myanmar Armed Forces Day, the UK condemns the military’s increasingly brutal campaign against the Myanmar people.

The sanctions announced today are designed to reduce the military’s access to fuel and military equipment.

The UK will continue to work closely with partners to hold the military regime to account and support the people of Myanmar, as they strive for a return to democracy and freedom.

These targeted sanctions will raise the cost for those profiting from, or supporting, the regime and restrict the military’s access to fuel and military equipment.

The UK has led the international community’s work to support a peaceful resolution in Myanmar and a return to democracy, as well as pushing for progress towards accountability and justice. It has also played a key role in calling on countries around the world to end the sale and transfer of arms and equipment which facilitate the military’s atrocities.

At the United Nations the UK successfully coordinated a Security Council Resolution on the crisis, the first of its kind, to apply further pressure on the military to end its violence and engage in dialogue.

This will be the 15th round of targeted sanctions by the UK against the military regime in Myanmar. The UK will continue to work with international partners to maintain pressure on the military regime and welcomes the sanctions announced by the US to coincide with Myanmar Armed Forces Day.

Background:

Those sanctioned today are:

• Shoon Energy Pte Ltd – a company profiting from the supply of aviation fuel to the Myanmar Air Force.
• Khin Phyu Win: current Director and shareholder of Shoon Energy Pte Ltd.
• Tun Min Latt: Director of Star Sapphire Trading Company Limited, a company previously sanctioned by the UK which supplies restricted goods or technology through its business.