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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.
OFAC sanctions Burmese governing body and numerous individuals
On May 17, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against 16 individuals connected to Burma’s military regime and one entity, the State Administration Council (SAC), which is the official name of the military government in Burma formed by Burma’s military on February 2, 2021. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the SAC and the identified individuals subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. According to Andrea Gacki, Director of OFAC, these sanctions “promote accountability for those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence.” Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” The sanctions also generally prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of the SAC or the identified individuals.
OFAC sanctions Burmese timber and pearl enterprises
On April 21, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against a Burmese state-owned entity responsible for timber and pearl exports from Burma. According to OFAC, the timber and pearl industries are “key economic resources for the Burmese military regime that is violently repressing pro-democracy protests” and is responsible for the continuing deadly attacks against the Burmese people. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the entity 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 exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC sanctions Burmese gem enterprise
On April 8, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against a Burmese state-owned entity responsible for all gemstone activities in Burma. According to OFAC, gemstones are a “key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that is violently repressing pro-democracy protests” and is accountable for the continuing deadly attacks against the people of Burma. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the entity 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 exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC sanctions Burmese military holding companies
On March 25, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14014 against two military holding companies in Burma. According to OFAC, these sanctions specifically target “the Burmese military’s control of significant segments of the Burmese economy.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction, which enjoy a privileged position in the Burmese economy, 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.
Concurrent with the sanctions, OFAC issued four general licenses (GL) and related FAQs: (i) GL 1, “Official Business of the United States Government”; (ii) GL 2, “Official Activities of Certain International Organizations and Other International Entities”; (iii) GL 3, “Certain Transactions in Support of Nongovernmental Organizations’ Activities”; and (iv) GL 4, “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanma Economic Holdings Limited.” GLs 1, 2, and 3 authorize certain transactions prohibited by E.O. 14014 that are associated with, respectively, the official business of the U.S. government, the official business of certain international organizations and other international entities, and certain nongovernmental organizations’ activities. GL 4 authorizes, through June 22, transactions and activities ordinarily incident to the wind down of transactions involving the two sanctioned companies as well as any entity owned by 50 percent or more of the sanctioned companies. Additionally, FAQ 882 clarifies which organizations within the United Nations’ programs are covered by GL 2, whereas FAQ 883 stipulates that “wind down transactions may be processed through the U.S. financial system or involve U.S. persons, as long as the transactions comply with the terms and conditions in GL 4.”
OFAC sanctions additional individuals and entities connected to Burmese military coup
On March 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against two individuals and two entities connected to the Burmese military’s “repression of pro-democracy protests.” The sanctions follow previous actions taken by OFAC earlier this year against several individuals and entities (covered by InfoBytes here and here). As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons,” subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC sanctions additional individuals and entities connected to designated Burmese military coup leader
On March 10, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14014 against two individuals along with six of their companies. The individuals are the adult children of a previously designated Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese military forces (covered by InfoBytes here)—an individual OFAC claims is “the leading actor in the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government.” Under E.O. 14014, foreign persons may be sanctioned who are the spouses or adult children of a person whose property and interests in property are blocked. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities, and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them,” subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC sanctions additional individuals connected to Burmese military coup
On February 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 14014 against two individuals connected to a Burmese military coup. The sanctions build upon actions taken by OFAC earlier in the month against 10 current or former military officials as well as three Burmese entities (covered by InfoBytes here), and reaffirms the U.S.’s continued work to “promote accountability for those responsible for attempting to reverse Burma’s progress toward democracy.” As a result of the sanctions all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons,” subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.
OFAC issues new executive order connected to Burmese military coup, adds sanctions targets under new order
On February 11, President Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14014, “Blocking Property With Respect To The Situation In Burma.” Among other things, the new executive order permits the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to target any person determined to operate in the defense sector of the Burmese economy, or any other sector of the economy as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. The order also targets persons determined to have undermined democracy, threatened peace or stability, or engaged in a number of other activities threatening freedoms or human rights in Burma, and other persons determined to be a leader, part of, or associated with the Government of Burma. Under this new authority, OFAC announced sanctions against 10 current and former military officials and three entities connected to a Burmese military coup. The sanctions “specifically target those who played a leading role in the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government.” As a result of the sanctions all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities, and “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them,” subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless exempt or authorized by a general or specific license.