Riot police approach protesters' barricade in an attempt to disperse demonstration against the military coup in Naypyidaw, Myanmar on March 4, 2021. (STR / AFP)

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) on Monday imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and two companies in Myanmar.

The individuals "are all responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law" in Myanmar, and for "repressive decisions and serious human rights violations," the Council of the EU said in a press release following a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers.

A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD), were detained by the military on Feb 1

In the press release, it said the two entities, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC), were large conglomerates "owned and controlled by the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), and provide revenue for it."

Pre-existing EU restrictive measures also remain in place, said the press release.

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EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities.

A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other officials from the National League for Democracy (NLD), were detained by the military on Feb 1.

The military had claimed that there was massive voting fraud in the country's November 2020 general elections, which saw the NLD win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.

ASEAN's Role

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Monday for leaders in Asia to bolster efforts towards finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Myanmar, highlighting the key role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in this regard.

Speaking during a Security Council meeting on cooperation between the world body and regional and sub-regional organizations, the top UN official underscored the relationship with ASEAN, underlining the bloc's important role in diplomacy, conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

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"Today, ASEAN's role is more crucial than ever as the region faces an urgent crisis in Myanmar," Guterres said.

In this regard, UN cooperation with ASEAN is vital, the secretary-general said, as the situation requires a robust international response grounded in a unified regional effort.

Guterres told the Council that his special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, is in the region and stands ready to resume dialogue with the military and others.

The Security Council debate, held online, focused on an issue which the secretary-general said has been a key priority since he took office four years ago.

Cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations has "grown exponentially" since its founding in 1945, he said, encompassing areas that include preventive diplomacy, mediation, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and promoting human rights, but also combating climate change and now the COVID-19 pandemic.