US tightens noose on Myanmar junta

The United States on February 5 tightened its financial noose around Myanmar's military junta, citing continuing human rights violations and political repression. "We are tightening financial sanctions against Tay Za, an arms dealer and financial henchman of Burma's repressive junta," said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The US began imposing targeted sanctions against Myanmar's junta after a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters in September. The new US sanctions target Tay Za's Htoo Group of Companies, which carries out key projects on behalf of Myanmar's junta. Other companies targeted include Myanmar Avia Export Company Ltd., Ayer Shwe Wah Company Limited and Pavo Aircraft Leasing Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. (AFP)