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OFAC sanctions additional persons connected to Burma’s military regime
On March 24, pursuant to Executive Order 14014, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against two individuals and six entities connected to Burma’s military regime. In announcing the sanctions, OFAC explained that the Burmese military, which overthrew the country’s democratic government in February 2021, has increased its reliance on air strikes in civilian populated areas and that the designated persons have provided assistance to military efforts through the importation, storage, and distribution of jet fuel. “Burma’s military regime continues to inflict pain and suffering on its own people,” Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson said in the announcement. “The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Burma, and will continue to deny the military the materiel it uses to commit these atrocities.”
In conjunction with the sanctions, OFAC published an alert warning of the sanctions risks associated with providing jet fuel to the Burmese military. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or if otherwise exempt.
OFAC sanctions persons connected to Burma’s military regime
On January 31, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against six individuals and three entities connected to Burma’s military regime. The sanctions, taken in coordination with the United Kingdom and Canada, come on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the military coup d’état that deposed Burma’s democratically elected government. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson stressed that the “United States will continue to promote accountability for those who provide financial and material support to, and directly enable, the violent suppression of democracy in Burma.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or if otherwise exempt.
OFAC announces sanctions involving Burma’s military regime
On November 8, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against an individual and an entity that facilitate weapons purchases for Burma’s military regime. According to OFAC, the designation is in conjunction with newly issued European Union sanctions. OFAC also noted that “Burma’s military regime has continued to oppress and deny the will of the people to chart an inclusive, democratic future for their country,” and that the sanctions are not targeted toward the people of Burma but at “those who profit from the oppressive actions of the regime by operating in the defense sectors of Burma’s economy and by enabling Burma’s military connections to foreign militaries.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or if otherwise exempt.
OFAC sanctions arms dealers for supporting Burma’s military regime
On October 6, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against three individuals and one entity connected to Burma’s military regime. According to OFAC, the sanctions target persons who profit from the regime’s oppressive actions, including support networks and war profiteers that enable weapons procurement for the military regime. The same day, the State Department also designated the former Burma police chief and deputy Home Affairs minister under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2022, for his involvement in “gross violations of human rights.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or are otherwise exempt.
OFAC announces Burmese sanctions
On March 25, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against five individuals and five entities connected to the military regime in Burma. According to OFAC, the sanctions “come[] as the regime prepares to mark the 77th Armed Forces Day.” OFAC also described that “[f]ollowing the February 1, 2021, coup that overthrew Burma’s democratically elected civilian government, the military committed numerous atrocities against the people of Burma, including the violent repression of political dissent and violence against innocent people, including at pro-democracy protests during last year’s Armed Forces Day that killed more than 100 people.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons.
OFAC sanctions officials and entities connected to Burmese military
On January 31, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against seven individuals and two entities connected to Burma’s military regime. The sanctions coincide with the one-year anniversary of the military coup d’etat of Burma’s democratically elected government, and are part of a joint action taken with the UK and Canada. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson stated that the U.S. “will continue to target those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence, enablers of the regime’s brutal repression, and their financial supporters.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the identified persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated individuals, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license. Prohibitions “include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.”
Agencies issue Burma advisory
On January 26, OFAC, along with Departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Labor, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, published a business advisory titled Risks and Considerations for Businesses and Individuals with Exposure to Entities Responsible for Undermining Democratic Processes, Facilitating Corruption, and Committing Human Rights Abuses in Burma (Myanmar), which informs the public of the heightened risks associated with conducting business in Burma, specifically business that involves the military regime. According to the announcement, since the military coup in 2021, the military has engaged in serious human rights abuse against the people of Burma. The specific entities and sectors of greatest concern for corruption and other illicit finance risks include, among other things, state owned enterprise and real-estate and construction projects.
OFAC sanctions officials and family connected to Burmese military
On July 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against 22 individuals connected to Burma’s military regime. The designations include seven key military members, along with 15 individuals identified as either the spouses or adult children of previously sanctioned senior military officials “whose financial networks have contributed to military officials’ ill-gotten gains.” The sanctions complement new restrictions imposed on four entities that have provided support for the Burmese military by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the identified individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated individuals, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC publishes Burma Sanctions Regulations
On May 28, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued the Burma Sanctions Regulations to implement Executive Order (E.O.) 14014, “Blocking Property with Respect to the Situation in Burma.” As previously covered by InfoBytes, President Biden issued E.O. 14014 in February granting OFAC the authority to target any person determined to have operated in the defense sector of the Burmese economy, or any other sector of the economy as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. Among other things, the Burma Sanctions Regulations provide guidance on (i) prohibited transactions; (ii) general definitions; (iii) interpretations; (iv) licenses and authorizations; (v); reports; (vi) penalties and findings of violations; and (vii) procedures and the delegation of certain authorities to the Treasury secretary. OFAC noted that while the regulations have been published in an abbreviated form to provide “immediate guidance to the public,” it intends to provide a more comprehensive set of regulations in the future that “may include additional interpretive and definitional guidance, general licenses, and other regulatory provisions.”
OFAC sanctions Houthi military official
On May 21, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 13611 against a key senior military official connected to the Ansarallah, sometimes referred to as the Houthis, for allegedly arranging attacks impacting Yemeni civilians. According to OFAC, the sanctioned individual recently led the offense against Yemeni government-held territory in the Marib province, which “puts approximately one million already vulnerable internally displaced people (IDP) at risk, threatens to overwhelm an already stretched humanitarian response, and is triggering broader escalation.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individual, and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more” by the individual that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. OFAC’s announcement further noted that OFAC regulations “generally prohibit” U.S. persons from participating in transactions with designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by a general or specific license, and warned foreign financial institutions that if they knowingly facilitate significant transactions for any of the designated persons, they may be subject to U.S. correspondent account or payable-through account sanctions.