Ninety-two Canadian organisations and international human rights groups, including communities from Burma now living in Canada, have called on the Government of Canada to expand its sanctions framework on Burma to cover the entire oil and gas extraction sector, warning that foreign companies continue to generate revenue for the Burmese military through their involvement in the industry.
In a joint letter to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, the organisations welcomed Canada’s longstanding support for democracy and human rights in Burma, including sanctions imposed on the military regime and measures targeting the supply of aviation fuel. However, they argue that existing sanctions do not go far enough and leave significant sectors untouched, such as gas and oil, that continue to benefit the military.
The signatories are urging Canada to introduce new sanctions on the entire Burmese oil and gas extraction sector, preventing service companies, financial intermediaries, insurers, certification bodies, engineering contractors and other Canadian businesses from facilitating oil and gas revenue reaching the Burmese military.
The organisations highlighted the urgent need to impose such sanctions given that a Canadian run company, Canadian Foresight Group which holds an 80 per cent operating interest in Block M-15, a 13,480-square-kilometre offshore concession in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar’s southern Tanintharyi Region, is planning to start developing the project, potentially earning billions of dollars for the Burmese military. Though technically registered in Singapore, the company is managed by Canadian citizens based in Calgary.
The groups highlighted the role of the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is controlled by the Burmese military and manages the country’s oil and gas resources. Revenue generated through the sector continues to provide the military with access to foreign currency and funding despite widespread international condemnation of its human rights violations.
The letter argues that sanctions focused solely on MOGE are insufficient, as EU and US sanctions have shown, leaving a giant loophole enabling European and US companies to continue to work in the oil and gas extraction industry as long as they are not directly contracted by MOGE. International companies continue to support exploration, production, financing, insurance, certification and other services linked to the sector. Without measures addressing the entire supply chain, the organisations warn that sanctions risk being undermined by ongoing commercial activity that helps sustain military revenues.
The signatories are calling on the Canadian Government to:
- Expand existing sanctions to cover the entire Burma oil and gas sector, preventing Canadian companies and citizens working in Burma’s oil and gas industry.
- Ensure such sanctions also apply to insurance, reinsurance, certification, engineering and financial services linked to the sector.
- Ensure sanctions have the greatest impact by imposing regular new rounds of sanctions on sources of revenue, arms and equipment on an ongoing basis. This was the approach Canada initially took following the 2021 coup, but no longer. Canada must resume regular rounds of new sanctions to reduce the capacity of the Burmese military to kill and displace the population of Burma.
The call comes amid growing concern about international companies continuing to operate in Burma’s energy sector despite the military’s escalating attacks on civilians. Human rights groups argue that a comprehensive sanctions regime targeting all entities that facilitate oil and gas revenues would significantly reduce the military’s capacity to fund its operations and commit further abuses.
The United Nations has reported a deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar, with Burmese military attacks escalating since new sanctions stopped being imposed almost two years ago. Based on figures from ACLED, the Burmese military carries out an airstrike every 2 and a half hours on average. A child is killed by the Burmese military every 29 hours. More than 14,000 political prisoners live in horrific conditions and more than 135,000 people have been forcibly conscripted in the Burmese military.
Slone Phan, Chairperson of the Karen Community of Canada (KCC), said:
“Investment in oil and gas under a military junta accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity risks becoming a financial lifeline that enables continued violence. International investment must not strengthen a regime that uses its resources to wage war and target innocent civilians, including women and children. Economic interests must never come before human lives and accountability.”
“Our relatives and communities in Kawthoolei and across Burma continue to suffer from airstrikes, artillery shelling, drone attacks, ground assaults, landmines, village burnings, and arbitrary arrests by the Myanmar military. We call on the Government of Canada to take stronger action – including an arms embargo, aviation fuel sanctions, and increased cross-border humanitarian assistance – to protect civilians and support communities affected by the conflict.”
Yasmin Ullah, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, said:
“Canada has recognized the genocide against the Rohingya. That recognition must mean more than words – it must shape how Canada confronts the systems that continue to finance the Myanmar military’s violence against the Rohingya and other ethnic peoples. Oil and gas remains a critical source of revenue for the military. Canada must close the loopholes that allow Canadian companies and service providers to keep feeding that system. You cannot claim to oppose genocide while allowing the machinery that finances it to keep running.”
Minn Tent Bo, Advocacy Officer at Burma Campaign UK, said:
“The oil and gas sector remains one of the Burmese military’s most important sources of revenue. Oil and gas revenues help finance the military’s campaign of repression, including air strikes that target civilians, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Canada has shown leadership on Burma before and should now take the next step by targeting the entire oil and gas supply chain.”
Full signatories list:
1. AAPP
2. Administrative Body, Natogyi Township
3. Arakan Youth Peace Network – AYPN
4. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters- HRDP
5. Athan
6. Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
7. Burma Action Ireland
8. Burma Campaign UK
9. Burmese Canadian Network (BCN)
10. Calgary Karen Community Association (CKCA)
11. Chin Community in Norway
12. Chin Community of Canada
13. Citizen of Burma (Canada Chapter)
14. Conflict and Resilience Research Institute Canada
15. CRPH Support Group, Norway and members
16. Defend Myanmar Democracy – DMD
17. Democracy Youth Myanmar
18. Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
19. Doe Ah Yay Channel
20. Edmonton Karen Community Association (EKCA)
21. Educational Initiatives Prague
22. Equal Move Disability Community (EMDC)
23. Equal Move Disability Community Foundation (EMDC)
24. Equality Myanmar
25. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
26. General Strike Coordination Body, Myanmar
27. Global Rohingya Advancement Network-RLO
28. Historical Carries Group
29. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
30. Info Birmanie
31. Inter Pares
32. Interim Myanmar Railways Administration Council (IMRAC)
33. International Campaign for the Rohingya
34. Italia Birmania Insieme
35. Justice and Equality Focus
36. Justice For All Canada
37. K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
38. Kachin Association Norway
39. Kachin Human Rights Watch
40. Kamsen
41. Karen Community Kitchener
42. Karen Community of Canada (KCC)
43. Karen Community of Hamilton
44. Karen Community of London
45. Karen Community of Regina (KCR)
46. Karen Community of Toronto
47. Karen Community of Windsor
48. Karen Community of Winnipeg (KCW)
49. Karen Community Society of British Columbia (KCSBC)
50. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
51. Karen Worldwide Advocacy Network
52. Karenni Humanity Pathways
53. Kareny Community of Moncton and Charlottetown
54. Kyae Lak Myay
55. Magway Region Human Rights Network -MHRN
56. MCDMO
57. Meiktila PDO
58. MiningWatch Canada
59. MURM Support Team
60. Myanmar Catholic Community in Norway
61. Myanmar Community in Norway
62. Myanmar Emergency Fund-Canada
63. Myanmar Hindu Union
64. Myanmar Policy and Community Knowledge Hub (MyPACK)
65. Myanmar Rainbow Political Community
66. Netherlands Myanmar Solidarity Platform
67. Network for Human Rights Documentation (ND-Burma)
68. New Myanmar Foundation
69. New York City Burmese Community (NYCBC)
70. NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
71. No Business With Genocide
72. Norway Matu Community
73. Norway Rvwang Community
74. People’s Administrative Team
75. Politics for Women Myanmar
76. Progressive Muslim Youth Association – PMYA
77. Progressive Voice (PV)
78. Rohingya Community in Norway
79. Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
80. Save Myanmar
81. Southern Initiatives
82. Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Community _SRMMC
83. Thunder Bay Karen-Canadian Community
84. U.S. Campaign for Burma
85. Woman & Youth Leadership
86. Women Forum
87. Women Lead Resource Center-WLRC
88. Yangon Deaf Group
89. Youth Empowerment-YE
90. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
91. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
92. Zomi Community Norway
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