Zaw Min Tun

Myanmar

Yenanchaung, Myanmar

Male

EU

Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun was the Press Team Leader of the State Administrative Council and the Deputy Minister for Information. He was also the Head of the Tatmadaw’s True News Information Team. On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw), led by Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, staged a coup in Myanmar/Burma by setting aside the results of the elections held on 8 November 2020 and by overthrowing the democratically elected government. As part of the coup, Vice-President Myint Swe, functioning as Acting President, declared a state of emergency on 1 February and transferred the legislative, executive and judicial powers of the state to the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. On 2 February, the SAC was established to exercise those powers, preventing the democratically elected government from fulfilling its mandate. He was appointed SAC Press Team Leader on 5 February 2021 and Deputy Minister for Information on 7 February 2021 by the State Administrative Council (SAC) led by Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing. As State Administration Council’s spokesperson, Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun has presided over all the SAC’s press conferences, which aim to relay and justify SAC’s narratives over the coup and of the junta’s actions since then. As Government Deputy Minister of Information, he bears direct responsibility for state-owned media and thus for the broadcast and publication of official news. Since the nominations of Chit Naing as Minister of Information and Zaw Min Tung as his deputy, the newspapers have been filled with pro-military articles. Hence, Zaw Min Tun bears responsibility for junta propaganda and spreading disinformation through state media that are not reporting accurately. He also bears responsibility for decisions that led to the crackdown on Myanmar/Burma media. This includes directives, which ordered independent media not to use “coup”, “military regime” and “junta”, and which has seen local news outlets banned in the country and domestic and foreign journalists being arrested. In his statements, he publicly supports the military coup. He is therefore responsible for undermining democracy in Myanmar/Burma by limiting press freedom and access of information both on-line and off-line. As a former member of both the SAC and the junta government, Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun is engaged in and provide support to actions and policies undermining democracy and the rule of law in Myanmar/Burma, as well as actions that threaten the peace, security and stability of Myanmar/Burma.

CH

article 1 (Financial sanctions) and art. 3 (Travelban)

2021-07-01

CH

Ordinance of 17 October 2018 on measures against Myanmar (SR 946.231.157.5)

Switzerland country specific

Myanmar

Asset freeze, Travel ban

Switzerland imposes these sanctions under the Ordinance of 17 October 2018 on measures against Myanmar (SR 946.231.157.5). The measures follow the sanctions adopted by the European Union.