Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has issued a warning regarding the State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) being exempt from international sanctions, despite individual sanctions being imposed on military leaders including Min Aung Hlaing and other commission members. While each member of the military commission, including its leader Min Aung Hlaing, is subject to sanctions from at least one country, the organization itself remains untouched by international punitive measures. This situation creates a concerning loophole that could potentially benefit the military regime.
Prior to the establishment of the commission, the State Administration Council (SAC) faced sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada between 2021 and 2023 following the military coup. However, after restructuring into the State Security and Peace Commission, the newly formed body has not been subjected to any international sanctions, as pointed out by JFM. This oversight has created a potentially dangerous situation where the military regime might exploit this gap to circumvent existing sanctions. The transformation from the State Administration Council to the State Security and Peace Commission appears to be part of the military junta’s preparations for their planned sham election and their continued illegal attempt to seize power.
JFM has called for immediate action from the international community to include the SSPC in their sanctions lists. This step is deemed necessary to ensure comprehensive sanctions against the illegal military regime and to prevent any circumvention of existing restrictions. The organization emphasizes that this transformation of the military council into a commission appears to be a strategic move to evade international pressure while continuing their oppressive actions against the Myanmar people. The lack of sanctions against the commission as an entity represents a significant gap in the international community’s efforts to pressure the military regime, potentially undermining the effectiveness of individual sanctions already in place against military leaders.
