Myanmar Military Feels The Pinch

On a day the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a closed-door meeting on Myanmar, the United States tightened the screws further on the junta by adding the Myanmarese defence and home ministries and some military conglomerates to a trade blacklist. These moves come after 38 pro-democracy protesters were killed in firing in Myanmar on Wednesday.

U.S. officials have also thwarted an effort by the junta to move about $1 billion held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, according to Reuters.

Thomas Andrews, the United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar, has urged the UNSC to impose a global arms ban and targeted economic sanctions on the junta and refer alleged atrocities to the International Criminal Court for prosecution.

Meanwhile, the junta’s pick to represent Myanmar at the United Nations has resigned, which means the country’s earlier representative, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun—who was fired by the military rulers a week ago for not toeing their line—remains on the job.

In another setback to the junta, at least 19 Myanmarese policemen have crossed into India’s Mizoram to evade taking orders from the military, as reported by Reuters. More are expected, the report said, quoting an unnamed Indian police officer.