In a Dec. 21
press release, the U.S. Treasury Department announced the first sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. this week, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued a
press release focusing particularly on sanctions imposed on a Burmese army general for his abuses directed at Rohingya Muslims. USCIRF said in part:
USCIRF has long called for targeted sanctions against violators of religious freedom.... Tools that could be used include the Global Magnitsky Act, the Treasury Department’s “specially designated nationals” (SDN) list, and other provisions under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
Specific to Burma, USCIRF praises the inclusion of General Maung Maung Soe in the list of sanctioned individuals. As the former head of the Burmese Army’s Western Command, he oversaw military operations in Rakhine State and myriad human rights abuses that resulted in more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing the country since 2016.
