The European Union has expanded its sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta to include several key officials and four regime-linked entities as the bloc continues its response to last year’s coup.

It also targeted the lucrative state-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).

The MOGE is considered a major source of revenue for the junta.

The military junta’s brutal crackdown on resistance to its rule has drawn worldwide condemnation. However, previous rounds of US and European sanctions against the junta have excluded oil and gas.

“The European Union is deeply concerned by the continued escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications,” a statement said.

“Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and seriously deteriorated.

The EU, in its repeated statement, called for “an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and an end to the disproportionate use of force and the state of emergency”.

Asset freezes and travel bans were imposed on 22 people on Monday, including ministers of investment, industry and information, election commission officials and senior military officials.

Oil and gas company now on sanctions list

Human rights groups in Myanmar and around the world have argued that slapping the MOGE with sanctions would cut a crucial source of funding for the military.

According to government forecasts, natural gas revenues account for almost 50% of Myanmar’s foreign exchange inflows.

MOGE is also expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-22, according to forecasts.

The sanctions on MOGE come a month after energy giants Total Energies and Chevron said they were leaving Myanmar for human rights violations.

MOGE was a venture capital partner in offshore gas projects, including the Yadana gas field.

There are now 65 officials and 10 companies on the EU sanctions list.

Myanmar’s military seized power from the democratically elected government in February 2021.

Armed resistance followed the military takeover after widespread nonviolent protests were suppressed.

More than 1,500 people were reportedly tortured or killed in the violence.

dvv/wmr (AFP, AP)