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1/31/2022

Treasury Sanctions Regime Officials and Military Affiliated Cronies in Burma on One-Year Anniversary of Military Coup |…

Treasury Sanctions Regime Officials and Military Affiliated
Cronies in Burma on One-Year Anniversary of Military Coup
January 31, 2022

Designations Part of Joint Action with UK and Canada
WASHINGTON – Today, on the one-year anniversary of the brutal military coup dʼetat of
Burmaʼs democratically elected government, the U.S. Department of the Treasuryʼs O ice of
Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating seven individuals and two entities connected to
Burmaʼs military regime pursuant to Executive Order (E.O) 14014. These designations are part
of a joint action with the United Kingdom and Canada, who are each designating two
Burmese government o icials.
On February 1, 2021, the Burmese military regime launched a coup dʼétat against the
democratically elected government and civilian government leaders. The military sought to
suppress the will of the people of Burma as conveyed in November 2020 general elections and
undermined the countryʼs democratic transition and rule of law. Over the past year, Burmaʼs
military regime has attempted to consolidate power by spreading fear among Burmaʼs prodemocracy movement and the population at large; killing vast numbers of innocent people,
including children; and targeting political opposition leaders and peaceful demonstrators.
Further, the regimeʼs control over resources and complete lack of transparency contribute to
significant corruption in the country.
“One year a er the coup, the United States, along with allies in the United Kingdom and
Canada, stands with the people of Burma as they seek freedom and democracy,” said Under
Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “We will
continue to target those responsible for the coup and ongoing violence, enablers of the
regimeʼs brutal repression, and their financial supporters.”

GOVERNMENT OF B URMA OF F ICIALS
The following three individuals are connected to Burmaʼs military regime. They are being
designated for being foreign persons who are or were leaders or o icials of the Government
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Treasury Sanctions Regime Officials and Military Affiliated Cronies in Burma on One-Year Anniversary of Military Coup |…

of Burma on or a er February 2, 2021:
Thida Oo is the Union Attorney General. The Attorney Generalʼs O ice, under Thida Ooʼs
leadership, cra ed the regimeʼs politically motivated charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, Win
Myint, and other pro-democracy leaders, undermining the rule of law and Burmaʼs democratic
institutions.
Tun Tun Oo is the Chief Justice of Burmaʼs Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, under Tun Tun
Ooʼs leadership, has been involved in the regimeʼs prosecution of Aung San Suu Kyi and other
pro-democracy leaders, undermining the rule of law and Burmaʼs democratic institutions.
Tin Oo is the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC, under Tin Ooʼs
leadership, has brought spurious corruption charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and other
former civilian government o icials to remove them and the National League for Democracy
(NLD) as a political force.

SUPPORT TO B URMAʼS MILITARY REGIME
Financial Support
The following individual and entity have provided financial support to Burmaʼs military regime.
They are being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, a person whose
property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order:
KT Services & Logistics Company Limited (KTSL) has operated the TMT Port in Yangon,
Burma since 2016. It leases the port from the Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company
Limited (MEHL) for $3 million a year. MEHL was designated on March 25, 2021 pursuant to
E.O. 14014 for being owned or controlled by the military or security forces of Burma.
Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung is the CEO of KT Group and the Director of the KT Group
subsidiary, KTSL.

Military Equipment Support
The following individual and entity have provided arms and equipment to Burmaʼs military
regime. They are being designated for operating in the defense sector of the Burmese
economy.
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Treasury Sanctions Regime Officials and Military Affiliated Cronies in Burma on One-Year Anniversary of Military Coup |…

The Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services (Army)
is being designated for operating in the defense sector of the Burmese economy. The
Directorate of Procurement of the Commander-In-Chief of Defense Services (Army) is
responsible for the purchase of arms and equipment from around the world for use by the
Burmese military.
Tay Za is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14014 for operating in the defense sector of the
Burmese economy. Tay Za is the owner of multiple companies known to provide equipment
and services, including arms, to the Burmese military and was a member of a May 2021 highranking Burmese military delegation to Russia, led by General Maung Maung Kyaw — an
individual designated on February 22, 2021, for being a foreign person who is or was a leader
or o icial of the military or security forces of Burma.

Family Members
The following individuals are the adult sons of Tay Za. Separately, each holds leadership
positions within businesses that are closely associated with Tay Za.
Htoo Htet Tay Za and Pye Phyo Tay Za, who are instrumental to Tay Zaʼs business dealings
with the Burmese military, are being designated for being adult children of Tay Za.

Burma Business Advisory
On January 26, 2022, the U.S. government issued a business advisory to inform the public of
the heightened risks associated with doing business in Burma due to increasing military
control over the economy, “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)

.”

SANCT IONS IMPLICAT IONS
As a result of todayʼs action, pursuant to E.O. 14014, all property and interests in property of
the persons named above that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S.
persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned,
directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or otherwise exempt,
OFACʼs regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting)
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Treasury Sanctions Regime Officials and Military Affiliated Cronies in Burma on One-Year Anniversary of Military Coup |…

the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or
otherwise blocked persons. The 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.
U.S. sanctions need not be permanent. Sanctions are intended to bring about a positive
change of behavior. Consistent with the findings of Treasuryʼs Sanctions Review, the removal
of sanctions is available for persons designated under E.O. 14014 who take concrete and
meaningful actions to restore democratic order and disassociate themselves from the
military-led government in Burma. For detailed information on the process to submit a
request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.
View identifying information on the individuals and entities designated today.
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