Canada and UK imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals

The United Kingdom and Canada have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s ruling generals for toppling the civilian-led government, while Japan has said it agrees with the United States, India, and Australia that democracy must be restored there quickly.

Western countries have condemned the February 1 overthrow and detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi; which has also brought daily mass demonstrations to the streets of the Southeast Asian country.

Following sanctions from the US announced last week; both the UK and Canada announced measures on Thursday.

The UK said it would impose asset freezes and travel bans on three generals; while Canada said it would take action against nine military officials.

“We, alongside our international allies, will hold the Myanmar military to account for their violations of human rights and pursue justice for the Myanmar people,” British foreign minister Dominic Raab said.

The UK already had sanctions in place on military leader Min Aung Hlaing, accusing him of human rights abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minority groups.

Myanmar’s government gave no immediate reaction to the new sanctions. On Tuesday, an army spokesman told a news conference that sanctions had been expected.

The coup halted a tentative transition to democracy that began in 2011 after nearly half a century of army rule; raising fears of a return to an old era of isolation despite the generals’ promise to hold fair elections.

Also on Thursday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he had agreed with his US; Indian and Australian counterparts in the so-called Quad grouping that democracy must be restored quickly in Myanmar.

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday Secretary of State Antony Blinken had discussed with the three foreign ministers “the urgent need to restore the democratically elected government in [Myanmar], and the priority of strengthening democratic resilience in the broader region”.

However, the Myanmar army has closer ties to neighboring China and to Russia, which have taken a softer approach.