US, China Spur Southeast Asian Scam Crackdown – Asia Sentinel
After more than a decade of rapacious scam activity, reports Asia Sentinel, dual pressure from the US and China has caused the Myanmar military to raid Shwe Kokko, a notorious compound 40 km from the Thai border town of Mae Sot where enslaved workers defraud online victims globally, although analysts are skeptical over the junta’s seriousness.
“A combination of Chinese pressure and US sanctions have panicked Chit Thu [leader of the Karen Border Guard Force, which works together with the Burmese military] and the Burmese military into a public relations exercise to convince the world they are taking action,” said Mark Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK. “We are witnessing a farcical situation where they are raiding their own town to destroy facilities they helped build and which they have been profiting from.”
Stop arms and equipment reaching Burmese military – Zoya Phan
“The Burmese military use foreign jets and bombs to kill civilians”, says Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, in her social media post. “You must stop arms and equipment reaching them.
“The UK, EU, USA, ASEAN and other countries must do more to cut off the supply of money, arms and aviation fuel reaching the Burmese military.”
Many killed in motor-powered paraglider bombing at protest in Myanmar – Northeast Bylines
At least 26 people died in Myanmar at a combined festival and protest against the brutal military junta, when a motor-powered paraglider (paramotor) dropped bombs.
Northeast Bylines asked Zoya Phan from Burma Campaign UK for her comment on this paramotor bombing incident. Zoya said: “The Burmese military have been escalating airstrikes and military offensives across Burma in recent weeks ahead of sham elections they are planning at the end of this year. It is clear, the use of airstrikes by the Burmese military targeting civilian places is a deliberate strategy to generate fear and maximise casualties.
“The international community cannot let these war criminals continue to bomb people with total impunity. The UK, EU, USA, and other governments must impose more targeted sanctions to limit the ability of the Burmese military to carry out these deadly airstrikes. We ask governments around the world to cut international support, including arms, revenue, equipment, and aviation fuel.”
Refugees facing starvation in war-torn Myanmar – Northeast Bylines
Aid agencies are warning that Rakhine State will soon see people starving, reports Northeast Bylines. As a result, the World Food Programme has issued an urgent appeal for more donations to avoid a “full-blown disaster”.
Zoya Phan, BCUK’s Programme Director, told Northeast Bylines: “International donors must immediately reverse long term aid cuts to camps hosting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Existing donors must increase funding for both refugees in Bangladesh and internally displaced civilians in Rakhine State. To be able to do so, Bangladesh must lift restrictions on cross-border aid delivery for Rohingya, Rakhine and other civilians who cannot be reached from central Burma. Rakhine State is facing imminent threat of famine and needs urgent attention. World leaders must not ignore it.”
Mark Farmaner interviewed by Radio France Internationale
Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK’s Director, told RFI: “For the refugees in Bangladesh and the Rohingya still in Burma, there is no hope that the situation will improve and that they can go home. In fact, every day, more and more refugees try to flee Rakhine State.
“We have seen the Arakan Army, a resistance army made up mainly of ethnic Rakhine, take control of almost all the State. But it commits the same human rights violations against the Rohingya as the official army. The Rohingya are thus caught in a vice between two violent armed forces, neither of whom want them to stay in Burma.”
Another sham election in Myanmar? – Northeast Bylines
New elections are planned by the Burmese military for the end of this year, reports Northeast Bylines, quoting Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing paper: ‘The Burmese Military’s ‘Elections’: New Date, New Danger, Same Sham.’
Zoya Phan, BCUK’s Programme Director, commented: “The Burmese military is so desperate for international legitimacy. This coming sham election is nothing about political reform or genuine peace in the country. History has already shown that the Burmese military is not interested in genuine peace, they just want to consolidate their power and continue their authoritarian rule. The UK and the rest of the world must not fall into Burmese military’s election trap. Instead, the UK must increase sanctions on the Burmese military and provide tangible support for the people.”
Read BCUK’s new briefing paper
Airbus divests from Chinese arms company following global campaign – KIC News
Airbus has divested from AVIC, a Chinese aircraft and arms manufacturer which supplies the Burmese military with the jets they use to bomb schools, hospitals and homes.
Justice for Myanmar and Blood Money Campaign groups including Burma Campaign UK have welcomed the withdrawal of investment.
Thank you all for taking action on this. Too many international companies are still doing business with the Burmese military, including AVIC, as you can see from our Dirty List. We will keep campaigning to make sure international companies cut all links to the Burmese military.
Read the statement from Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie
Zoya Phan speaks at Kachin protest at UK FCDO
Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, spoke today at a protest at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to mark the 14th anniversary of resumed war in Kachinland. The Kachin community calls on the British government and the international community to do more to cut off the supply of money, arms, equipment and jet fuel to the Burmese military.
Unspeakable Tragedy: Zoya Phan speaks at report launch
Our Programme Director Zoya Phan spoke at today’s launch of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s new report on Burma, “Unspeakable Tragedy”. She joined Tim Loughton, Dr. Sasa, Ben Rogers and Baroness Hodgson on the panel.
Zoya said: “The international community and the British government must not repeat past mistakes on Burma, where they were supporting the fake reform process by the Burmese military, lifting sanctions and allowing them to buy jets and weapons that they now use to kill our people.
“The British government needs to take the lead on international action again. We need regular and targeted sanctions that will cut off the Burmese military’s money, arms and equipment. We need increased and more flexible aid, including in different ethnic areas, through local groups and civil society organisations who do amazing work but often can’t access funding.”
Tim Loughton, Dr Sasa, Zoya Phan
Burn After Reforming: Mark Farmaner podcast for Insight Myanmar
“The military will never reform. And every time the international community bets on it, they lose.”
Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, doesn’t mince words in his podcast for Insight Myanmar. With decades of experience advocating for Myanmar, he shares why past strategies have failed — and what the world must do now to support real change.
From the fading influence of Aung San Suu Kyi to the growing strength of grassroots resistance, Farmaner offers a powerful insider’s perspective on the country’s unfolding crises — and why he still believes in a future free of military rule.
Hear his call to action. Understand the stakes. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss.
