As the third anniversary approaches of the Burmese military launching its attempted coup, Burma Campaign UK called on British Foreign Secretary David Cameron to do more to cut off sources of revenue to the Burmese military.
The British government is falling far behind allies such as Canada, USA and EU in sanctioning some of the main sources of money for the Burmese military.
GAS:
The European Union and USA have imposed sanctions on the military controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), through which revenue from gas sales reaches the military.
The UK hasn’t.
MINERALS/MINING:
The European Union, Canada and USA have sanctioned the two state-owned military controlled mining enterprises which provide revenue to the military from sales of minerals and rare earths.
The UK hasn’t.
STATE-OWNED MILITARY CONTROLLED BANKS:
The USA has sanctioned the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB), through which the military receives international revenue from gas, gems, minerals and other exports.
The UK hasn’t.
More pressure is vital
As the people of Burma continue to resist military rule, the generals are becoming ever more desperate and brutal as they try to cling on to power, bombing homes, schools, hospitals, churches and mosques. Two million people have been forced to flee their homes. 20,000 political prisoners are in jail.
There is no single thing that the British government can do to cut revenue to the Burmese military. It is the combination of sanctions and other measures which will have an impact.
This is why it is vital that David Cameron uses every opportunity there is to cut off the supply of money, arms and equipment to the military.
“Delays in sanctioning the main sources of revenue to the Burmese military mean more money and bombs for the Burmese military”, said Zoya Phan, Programme Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It makes no sense that the UK has not yet joined the EU and USA in sanctioning some of the main sources of revenue for the Burmese military.”
Further information:
Justice for Myanmar exposed UK oilfield services company Acteon as working in Burma.
Justice for Myanmar has exposed UK linked companies linked to mining in Burma.