Calling Burmese businessman Tay Za "an arms dealer and financial henchman of Burma's repressive junta," the United States on Tuesday imposed further sanctions against the tycoon and his business affiliates.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control announced yesterday that it is freezing assets and prohibiting financial transactions of a number of Tay Za's associates, many of whom also share ties with Burma's military leader Senior General Than Shwe.

Adam Szubin, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, told reporters that the United States "will continue to take action against the military junta and those who prop it up so long as human rights violations continue and democracy is suppressed."

This most recent round of sanctions specifically targets the Htoo Group of Companies, which are known to conduct business affairs on behalf of Burma's generals, including the purchase of military equipment.

The companies named in the list are: Myanmar Avia Export Co. Limited, Ayer Shwe Wah Co. Limited and Pavo Aircraft Leasing in Singapore.

According to the Treasure Department, Tay Za has purchased military helicopters and aircraft for the junta through Myanmar Avia Export.

Several of the individuals singled out in this latest round of sanctions are relatives of Burma's top generals. Those targeted with sanctions include:

o Aung Thet Mann – a director of Htoo Group and son of General Thura Shwe Manm

o Khin Lay Thet – wife of General Thura Shwe Mann

o Myint Myint Ko – wife of Construction Minister Saw Tun

o Tin Lin Myint – wife of Lieutenant General Ye Myint

o Myint Myint Soe – wife of Foreign Affairs Minister Nyan Win

o Thiha – brother of Tay Za

o U Kyaw Thein – a director of Tay Za's Singapore operations

"The actions of Than Shwe and his associates remain unacceptable to all those who value freedom," White House press secretary Dana Perino added from Washington. The Treasury Department's actions were authorized by an Executive Order from President George Bush.

It is unclear how much of an impact these sanctions will have on the business interests of the Htoo Group of Companies and named individuals, as they rarely make use of American financial services.

In November 2007, Tay Za's Air Bagan was forced to desist from operating its international service from Rangoon to Singapore following the imposition of United States brokered sanctions.

However Air Bagan now says it is set to resume service in September of this year. 

Prior to the latest expanded list of targeted individuals, the United States had imposed strict financial sanctions on 30 members of Burma's ruling military and their associates, along with seven business entities linked to the economic interests of Burma's ruling generals.