The European Union (EU) yesterday extended an arms embargo on Myanmar and prepared a framework for targeted sanctions against the country’s military officials and border guards over human rights abuses. The EU extended the existing embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression for one year, reads a release on the EU website. In addition, it prohibited the export of dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police and imposed restrictions on the export of equipment for monitoring communications that might be used for internal repression.

The embargo also prohibits the provision of military training to and military cooperation with the Myanmar army. The legal framework for targeted restrictive measures will make it possible to impose a travel ban and an asset freeze on individuals responsible for serious human rights violations, obstructing the conduct of independent investigations into alleged serious human violations or abuses, and obstructing the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance for civilians in need in Rakhine, says the statement.

In the statement, the EU also condemned "ongoing widespread, systematic grave human rights violations committed by Myanmar military and security forces, including rape and killings."

More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to neighboring Bangladesh since a military crackdown began last year targeting what Myanmar says are militants.