The United States on Friday slapped fresh sanctions on 22 individuals including four Myanmar government ministers in response to the February military coup and attacks against the country's pro-democracy movement.
In a two-pronged action, the Treasury and Commerce Departments announced the punishments as part of Washington's continued response to the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the new sanctions were levied "in response to the brutal campaign of violence perpetrated by the Burmese military regime and to continue imposing costs in connection with the military coup."
The sanctions do not target the Myanmar people, but are aimed at pressuring the military to "immediately restore Burma's path to democracy," Blinken said.
The sanctions target Myanmar's minister of information Chit Naing, minister for investment Aung Naing Oo, labor and immigration minister Myint Kyaing, and Thet Thet Khine, the minister for social welfare, relief and resettlement.
Three members of the powerful State Administrative Council were also hit with sanctions, as were 15 spouses and adult children of officials, in an expansion of US punishments imposed in February, March and May following the coup.
Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in a statement the action demonstrates Washington "will continue to impose increasing costs on Burma's military and promote accountability for those responsible for the military coup and ongoing violence."
The Commerce Department meanwhile slapped sanctions on four business entities: King Royal Technologies Co., which provides satellite communications services supporting the military; and Wanbao Mining and its two subsidiaries, which have revenue-sharing agreements with a company that helps fund the country's defense ministry.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US School Teacher Accused Of Sending Sexually Explicit Photos To Teen Student Watch: Viral 12-Hour Timelapse Of US Air Traffic Gridlock During Microsoft Outage US Issues Warning On Microsoft Outage, Satya Nadella Says "Working" After Retest, Haryana NEET Centre With Most Top Scorers Gave This Result... What Recovery Of Austrian Gun 'Steyr AUG' From J&K Terrorists Means The 'Fake' CrowdStrike Worker Who Took Credit For Biggest-Ever IT Outage Actor Darshan Directed To Approach Magistrate Court For Home Food In Jail ICSI Hiring Company Secretary Executives, Check Details ''Microsoft Makes Third-Rate Products'': Old Interview Of Steve Jobs Viral Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.