A HUMAN rights expert appointed by the United Nations has called for governments and companies to coordinate efforts to cut off the military-led government of Myanmar from its sources of revenue and weapons, saying life in the South-East Asian nation has become a “living hell” for many since the generals seized power last year.

Tom Andrews, in Geneva yesterday to deliver his annual report on Myanmar to the UN Human Rights Council, told reporters that while many countries have been imposing sanctions on individuals, military entities, financial institutions and energy companies, what is needed is “coordinated action”.

Russia and China continue to supply weapons to Myanmar, and with both having veto power on the UN Security Council, Andrews suggested it was unlikely it could convene and establish an arms embargo and targeted economic sanctions, leaving it up to individual countries.

“Right now you have countries doing this, countries doing that, a whole hodgepodge of things.

“But they don’t add up, they’re not focused, they’re not strategic, they’re not coordinated - and that’s what has to happen,” he said.

He noted that since the military takeover in February last year, about €19mil worth of Myanmar teak has entered the European Union despite sanctions, and smaller amounts have entered the United States, Canada, Switzerland and Britain, providing revenue for Myanmar’s military government.The report also says effective sanctions should target the military’s access to foreign currency, yet only Canada has sanctioned the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank, despite it being the primary foreign exchange intermediary.

 - AP