UN rights expert calls for sanctions on Myanmar gas and oil sectors News
hanodedfonts / Pixabay
UN rights expert calls for sanctions on Myanmar gas and oil sectors

UN Special Rapporteur Thomas Andrews called Wednesday for countries to impose economic sanctions on Myanmar’s oil and gas sector in order to cripple the junta that took power over the country five months ago.

Andrews identified two patterns that have emerged since then; the military junta’s widespread, systematic attacks on the people of Myanmar and the inability of the international community to do what is required to stop it.

He described the junta’s attacks as acts that amount to crimes against humanity as they continue to stifle freedom of expression, arbitrarily detain thousands and strip away multiple essential human rights such as due process.

At the beginning of the coup, Andrews called for the formation of an Emergency Coalition for the People of Myanmar, calling for it once more in order to create a group of nations willing to stand with the people of Myanmar through “meaningful, coordinate action.”

He said that economic sanctions must be imposed on the oil and gas sectors as they provide revenues that are a “financial lifeline for the junta and are estimated to be close to what is needed for the junta to maintain the security forces that are keeping them in power.”