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EU Prepares New Myanmar Sanctions Over Rohingya Crackdown

by Associated Press

   BRUSSELS --

   European Union foreign ministers have tasked the EU's top diplomat with
   drawing up a list of sanctions to slap on senior Myanmar military
   officers over rights abuses against the Rohingya minority.
   The ministers on Monday also ordered EU foreign policy chief Federica
   Mogherini to propose ways to toughen an EU embargo blocking the
   provision of arms and equipment that could be used for internal
   repression.
   They said the measures are needed ``in light of the disproportionate
   use of force and widespread and systematic grave human rights
   violations committed by the military and security forces.''
   About 700,000 Rohingya have fled towns and villages in Myanmar's
   northern Rakhine state since August to escape a military crackdown.
   Negotiations for their return are underway but many fear their safety
   and well-being are not guaranteed.