US law firm helped junta allies escape sanctions scrutiny

[geovalin]

 

 

A Washington-based law firm has confirmed its role in helping two Myanmar junta-linked individuals and one company secure removal from the US sanctions list, sparking outrage among human rights advocates and Myanmar’s pro-democracy community.

 

Ferrari & Associates, a firm specialising in US trade sanctions, assisted in the delisting process, according to its founder Erich Ferrari. The US Treasury announced in July that sanctions had been lifted against four Myanmar nationals—Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thaung, Aung Hlaing Oo, Sit Taing Aung and Tin Latt Min—as well as Indian national Deepak Subhash Jadhav and several affiliated companies.

 

Three of the Myanmar nationals were previously sanctioned for supplying arms and military technology to the junta, which has been accused of widespread atrocities since seizing power in 2021. The delisting has provoked fierce criticism, with UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews calling the move “unconscionable” and warning it could embolden the regime.

 

Ferrari, speaking on the Insight Myanmar podcast, confirmed that two individuals and one company among those delisted were his clients, though he declined to name them due to confidentiality. He insisted the decision was based on legal criteria, not persuasion, and had been reviewed across two US administrations.

 

“There’s no indication that enforcement under the Burma programme is being rolled back,” Ferrari said, adding that each case was assessed on its own merits.

 

The US Treasury has not explained the rationale behind the removals, and the White House remains silent. Critics argue the lack of transparency undermines efforts to hold the junta accountable and sends a troubling signal about Washington’s commitment to Myanmar’s democratic movement.

 

The episode has reignited debate over the effectiveness of international sanctions and the ease with which well-connected individuals can navigate legal channels to evade punitive measures. For many in Myanmar, it’s a bitter reminder that justice remains elusive while the regime continues its brutal campaign against civilians.

 

 

-2025-08-23