Rohingya atrocities: US sanctions Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing
- Members of ethnic minorities shot, often while fleeing, or while others were burned to death in their own houses, US Treasury Department says in statement
- Move comes as Aung San Suu Kyi attends first day of genocide hearings at UN court
The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on four Myanmar military leaders, including the commander-in-chief, in the toughest action taken yet by Washington for alleged human rights abuses against the Rohingya and other minorities.
The sanctions targeted military chief Min Aung Hlaing on the same day that Myanmar’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, attended the first day of hearings at the UN’s highest court in The Hague, where she will lead Myanmar’s defence against the charge of genocide.
A 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar drove more than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. United Nations investigators have said Myanmar’s operation included mass killings, gang rapes and widespread arson and was executed with “genocidal intent”.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, denied accusations of widespread abuses and said the military’s actions were part of a fight against terrorism.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement on Tuesday that Burmese military forces had committed “serious human rights abuse” under Min Aung Hlaing’s command.