International outcry as democracy activists executed – Sky News
Myanmar’s military authorities have executed four democracy activists accused of helping carry out “terror acts”, reports Sky News. The executed men included democracy-figure Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Jimmy, and former politician and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw.
Burma Campaign UK said it was “deeply saddened” to learn of the news. “This is a desperately sad day for family and friends of those executed,” said senior advocacy officer Wai Hnin Pwint Thon. “I have known Ko Jimmy my whole life, he was an inspiration to me. He dedicated his life to freedom and democracy for the people of Burma.”
Read Assistance Association for Political Prisoners statement
Mark Farmaner interviewed by BBC Burmese
Representatives from Burma’s Military Council joined Putin allies such as China, India and Iran at the annual International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to fewer attendees from the Western group.
Is Burma becoming a strategic ally for Russia? If Russia supplies Burma with fuel, electricity, and a communications network between banks, will the sanctions of western groups be impossible? BBC Burmese interviews former National Parliament Representative and economic observer writer U Than Soe, and Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK.
Watch BBC Burmese report (Mark Farmaner interview starts at 6.50, dubbed into Burmese)
Myanmar minister joins Southeast Asian defense meeting – Associated Press
Myanmar’s defense minister, under sanctions from the United States, Britain and other countries for abuses committed by his country’s military, has been welcomed to an annual meeting with his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). More than 600 civic groups inside and outside Myanmar had issued an appeal to the ministers not to invite him.
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, senior advocacy officer at Burma Campaign UK, told The Associated Press that ASEAN was failing to respect and stand with the people of Myanmar by inviting Mya Tun Oo to its meeting. “The military will see this invitation … as a sign of encouragement to continue carrying out their human rights violations in the country with complete impunity,” she said.
Military council and international diplomacy – VOA
Burma Campaign UK told the Voice of America (VOA) that some Asian and European countries are lowering the level of diplomatic relations in the Burmese military council’s diplomatic sphere, and that the National Unity Government (NUG) is increasingly accepted as the official representative of the Burmese people.
Asian and European governments, including the UK, are either renewing their diplomats or lowering their diplomacy to avoid recognising the military council as Burma’s legitimate representative. According to Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, these are behind the diplomatic battles with the military council.
On the other hand, Mark Farmaner commented: “ASEAN does not have a policy. Each member state has a completely different approach and different policies, and ASEAN is confused.”
Dozens of military airstrikes hit near Thai-Myanmar border – Thai Enquirer
At least 28 airstrikes hit near the Thai-Myanmar border yesterday, reports the Thai Enquirer, as the military junta conducts airstrikes close to the Thai border.
The Karen Human Rights Group said the footage obtained from the Thai side of the border appears to show air raids targeting a civilian area and reveals a drone conducting reconnaissance over a village before deploying military jets to bomb the area.
“28 Burmese military airstrikes in Dooplaya, Karen State today,” wrote Zoya Phan, the campaign manager at Burma Campaign UK. “Indiscriminate bombing of civilian areas is a war crime. Time for the UK, EU, USA and international community to sanction aviation fuel and support referring Burma to the International Criminal Court.”
Burma Campaign adds 56 companies to ‘Dirty List’ – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK has added 56 more companies to its ‘Dirty List’, reports Mizzima, where there is evidence of links to the Burmese military, human rights violations or environmental destruction.
Fifteen Russian companies have been added to the list. “Countries like the USA, Japan and South Korea have arms embargoes but still allow their companies to help fund the military so they can buy arms from countries like Russia and India,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK.
“We have seen a much stronger international response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine than we have to genocide, a coup and indiscriminate airstrikes by the Burmese military”, said Mark Farmaner. “The fact that so many companies are still linked to the Burmese military, including some of the biggest US tech firms such as Apple, shows the inconsistent and weak response to violations on international law by the Burmese military.”
Rohingya camps: Support community learning – Daily Star
At least 25 national and international rights bodies and civil society organisations, including Burma Campaign UK, have made an urgent call for the government to support the community-led learning facilities in Cox’s Bazar’s Rohingya refugee camps, reports Bangladesh’s Daily Star.
About 30 community-led schools have been shut down or dismantled by the authorities since December 2021, on the grounds that they don’t maintain the standards of education and hamper the activities of authorised schools.
The statement said the existing learning centres authorised by the government and operated by UNICEF and other humanitarian partners leave out the older (14+) age groups. And there are nearly half a million Rohingya children in Bangladesh who are deprived of education in an accredited curriculum since their refuge in August 2017.
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon interviewed by Associated Press
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, senior advocacy officer at Burma Campaign UK, condemned the guilty verdict and jail sentence delivered by a court in Naypyitaw to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In an interview with Associated Press, she said “These are trumped up charges, politically motivated, to keep her inside prison for such a long time.”
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, whose own father is currently in jail in Myanmar for political protest, said the court’s ruling would galvanize opposition. “Arresting people doesn’t create fear, it creates more anger in the public,” she said. “Aung San Suu Kyi is just one of many, many political prisoners in Burma and I don’t want the world to forget that people have been arrested and been detained illegally every day in Burma.”
Rushanara Ali MP at FCDO questions discussing Myanmar – YouTube
The Myanmar military continue to use airstrikes against civilians, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee from their homes. Rushanara Ali MP has urged the Government to introduce sanctions on Burmese and British companies that supply aviation fuel to the military.
Rushanara Ali chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Burma, which is administered by Burma Campaign UK. She put her question to Amanda Milling MP, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s minister for Asia.
Activists launch Blue Shirt campaign to show solidarity with political prisoners – Global Voices
Myanmar’s pro-democracy forces have initiated a global “Blue Shirt” campaign to show solidarity with political prisoners, especially the over 10,000 people who were arrested after the February 2021 coup, reports Global Voices.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) announced the campaign on April 21 and highlighted the growing number of prisoners as the military government continues to detain individuals accused of supporting the Civil Disobedience Movement and the National Unity Government.
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, senior advocacy officer at Burma Campaign UK, echoed this urgent call to the international community to continue speaking out for the immediate release of anti-coup activists. “These activists bravely stood up against the military coup, but the world seems to have forgotten about them. The international community must speak out for political prisoners in Burma and call for their immediate, unconditional release.”