OPPONENTS of Myanmar’s military dictatorship gave a warm welcome today to the latest sanctions imposed by the European Union, Britain and Canada on individuals and entities supplying aviation fuel and equipment to the army.

This followed a warning on Tuesday from a United Nations envoy that the crisis in Myanmar was deepening.

The Myanmar regime’s army is currently on the defensive against ethnic militias in much of the country as well as hundreds of armed guerilla groups collectively known as the People’s Defence Forces (PDF).

The latter was formed to fight to restore democracy after the military seized power from the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1 2021.

Over the past year, the army has suffered unprecedented battlefield defeats and has been increasingly relying on indiscriminate air and artillery strikes.

British Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said the sanctions targeted the suppliers of equipment and aviation fuel to the Myanmar military. 

“Alongside the EU and Canada, we are today further constraining the military’s access to funds, equipment and resources,” she announced.

The six entities on the sanctions list are the Asia Sun Group, Swan Energy, Myan-Oil , Rich Ray Trading, Progress Technology Support and King Royal Technologies.

August reportedly saw the highest number of air strikes by the Myanmar military on record, with dozens of civilians killed.

Canada separately imposed sanctions on three people, including Myanmar’s Industry Minister Charlie Than.

Nay Phone Latt, a spokesman for Myanmar’s main opposition group, the National Unity Government, thanked the Western countries for the sanctions and called for similar measures against the remaining companies and key resources that support the military and co-operate with it.

On Tuesday, UN special envoy for Myanmar Julie Bishop warned that the south-east Asian nation was in crisis, with conflict escalating, criminal networks “out of control” and human suffering at unprecedented levels.

Calling for an end to the violence, Ms Bishop told the general assembly’s human rights committee that “Myanmar actors must move beyond the current zero-sum mentality.”

She added: “Any pathway to reconciliation requires an end to violence, accountability and unfettered access for the UN and its partners to address vulnerabilities amongst the marginalised, including Rohingya, ethnic communities and, particularly, women and youth.

“The sheer scale of arms production and trade, human trafficking, drug manufacture and trafficking and scam centres means Myanmar now ranks highest amongst all member states for organised crime.”