On International Human Rights Day which was marked worldwide yesterday, the Biden administration of the United States announced a fresh round of extensive sanctions against individuals and entities in four countries for what it terms “human rights violations”.
These countries are China, Myanmar, North Korea, and Bangladesh. The US sanctions were followed up with more from the UK and Canada as well.
President Joe Biden’s administration imposed its first sanctions on North Korea (DPRK), and similarly moved against individuals connected to the Myanmar military regime, with the United Kingdom and Canada following suit.
The US treasury has also announced a travel ban against 12 people, including Chinese, Belarusian, and Sri Lankan officials. Similarly, the Rapid Action Battalion and six associated people are also facing sanctions because it is “an entity that has engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse” according to its view.
US Treasury deputy spokesperson Wally Adeyemo said that “Our actions today, particularly those in partnership with the United Kingdom and Canada, send a message that democracies around the world will act against those who abuse the power of the state to inflict suffering and repression”
Entities Targeted By Sanctions
Chinese artificial intelligence company SenseTime has been targeted with sanctions, and this has impacted its plan for a $767 million IPO on Hong Kong’s stock exchange. Two Myanmar military bodies and a firm providing reserves for the armed forces have also been targeted.
The UK and Canada also brought the ruling establishment in Myanmar under sanctions, with the UK applying sanctions on the military itself and Canada going for entities associated with the military junta government.
However, advocacy group Global Witness said that the sanctions did not target Myanmar's natural gas supply which is a chief source of revenue for the military government.
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