Burma Task Force Welcomes Canada Sanctions Against Repressive Burmese Generals
February 18th, 2021
Burma Task Force Canada, a program of Justice For All Canada, welcomes the announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Marc Garneau today, concerning Canada’s imposition of sanctions on Burmese military officials in response to a coup d’état in the region.
On February 18th, 2021, Canada amended the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations, to target 9 additional individuals through arms embargo-related material, technical and financial assistance, and an assets freeze. Justice for All Canada looks forward to relevant details explaining why Burmese perpetrators of genocide may still hold assets in Canada, if any. This same sentiment applies to Burmese generals still having access to $1 billion in the United States, which had recently imposed its own sanctions against Burma’s military.
Given our human rights work since 2012 advocating on behalf of Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in the region, we affirm that their protection and safety must be front and center in any Canadian foreign policy decision.
As human rights advocates, we wholeheartedly support Canada’s public stance against the Myanmar military's actions, including their “complete disregard for the will and democratic rights of the people of Myanmar”.
Given recent reports confirming the deployment of “hardened troops” to border areas in Rakhine state, including an independent UN investigation warning the possibility of bloodshed and “tragic loss of life”, Justice For All Canada maintains its recommendations for serious diplomatic pressure against Burma’s repressive military:
“We know that Burma leaders continue to amass enormous illicit profits, which drive their brutal ‘clearance operations' aimed at ethnic minorities,” advised Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “Unless military-dominated companies are sanctioned and driven from world markets, these initial sanctions may be futile,” adds Ghayyur.
Justice For All Canada maintains that if the Rohingya genocide was not sufficient to convince the Federal Government, the recent coup is a clear reminder that Canada needs leverage to convince the brutal Burmese military that its oppression will not succeed.
“The country’s resistance to the coup indicates that locals do not consent to be dominated by the Burmese military. We encourage Canada to support Burmese locals in their struggle for democracy, coexistence and better leadership,” said Ghayyur.
Burma Task Force Canada, a program of Justice For All Canada, welcomes the announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Marc Garneau today, concerning Canada’s imposition of sanctions on Burmese military officials in response to a coup d’état in the region.
On February 18th, 2021, Canada amended the Special Economic Measures (Burma) Regulations, to target 9 additional individuals through arms embargo-related material, technical and financial assistance, and an assets freeze. Justice for All Canada looks forward to relevant details explaining why Burmese perpetrators of genocide may still hold assets in Canada, if any. This same sentiment applies to Burmese generals still having access to $1 billion in the United States, which had recently imposed its own sanctions against Burma’s military.
Given our human rights work since 2012 advocating on behalf of Rohingya and other ethnic minorities in the region, we affirm that their protection and safety must be front and center in any Canadian foreign policy decision.
As human rights advocates, we wholeheartedly support Canada’s public stance against the Myanmar military's actions, including their “complete disregard for the will and democratic rights of the people of Myanmar”.
Given recent reports confirming the deployment of “hardened troops” to border areas in Rakhine state, including an independent UN investigation warning the possibility of bloodshed and “tragic loss of life”, Justice For All Canada maintains its recommendations for serious diplomatic pressure against Burma’s repressive military:
- Sanctions must not be lifted until sections of the junta-authored constitution are amended, particularly clauses related to power-sharing between the civilian administration and country generals
- Canada must extend sanctions to military-owned businesses, which holds a significant monopoly on the country’s gems sector, including banking, tourism, real estate, transportation and metals industries
“We know that Burma leaders continue to amass enormous illicit profits, which drive their brutal ‘clearance operations' aimed at ethnic minorities,” advised Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada. “Unless military-dominated companies are sanctioned and driven from world markets, these initial sanctions may be futile,” adds Ghayyur.
Justice For All Canada maintains that if the Rohingya genocide was not sufficient to convince the Federal Government, the recent coup is a clear reminder that Canada needs leverage to convince the brutal Burmese military that its oppression will not succeed.
“The country’s resistance to the coup indicates that locals do not consent to be dominated by the Burmese military. We encourage Canada to support Burmese locals in their struggle for democracy, coexistence and better leadership,” said Ghayyur.
1. https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2021/02/canada-imposes-sanctions-on-myanmar-military-officials-in-response-to-coup-detat.html?fbclid=IwAR0M9nv7RAuihcE9g_qhU4vCc8qshvz6GJz98__yYr-pdygW727qb5lYbK4
2. https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/myanmar-troops-said-to-be-moving-to-cities-un-investigator-1.5313794
3. https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/02/16/un-expert-fears-violence-with-troops-sent-to-myanmar-city/
4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/myarnmar-coup-military-1.5914321
5. https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2021/02/myanmars-military-makes-money-grab/comment-page-1/
2. https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/myanmar-troops-said-to-be-moving-to-cities-un-investigator-1.5313794
3. https://www.citynews1130.com/2021/02/16/un-expert-fears-violence-with-troops-sent-to-myanmar-city/
4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/myarnmar-coup-military-1.5914321
5. https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2021/02/myanmars-military-makes-money-grab/comment-page-1/