The United States slapped sanctions on a Myanmar general accused of leading an ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya villagers Thursday, amid a raft of new sanctions against alleged rights abusers worldwide. Maung Maung Soe is among the first 14 senior figures - who also include former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh and Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of a former Uzbek leader - blacklisted under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
"Today's actions advance our values and promote the security of the United States, our allies and our partners," US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in a statement. "We must lead by example, and today's announcement of sanctions demonstrates the United States will continue to pursue tangible and significant consequences for those who commit serious human rights abuse and engage in corruption."