U.S. imposes travel restrictions on Myanmar military leaders over ‘atrocities’

Myanmar military chief and three others banned from US travels

Myanmar’s army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and three senior officers are banned to visit the United States. The ban was imposed for their role in the military crackdown in northern Rakhine State in late 2017. The US State Department announced on July 16 that it had made the moves after the Myanmar government took “no actions to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and abuses”. There are continued reports of human rights abuses and violations by the Myanmar military, also addressed in the statement. The other three to be sanctioned were Deputy Commander-in-chief Soe Win, Brigadier General Than Oo and Brigadier General Aung Aung. In late 2017, an estimated 700,000 Muslims who identify as Rohingya, fled northern Rakhine State for Bangladesh amid an army crackdown. Myanmar authorities have largely continued to deny any wrongdoing, saying their actions were legitimate steps to root out a “terrorist” organisation. They were referring to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, which launched attacks on military outposts in late August of 2017.

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