BCUK demands insurance firms stop covering Myanmar junta fuel supplies – the Irrawaddy
Burma Campaign UK has called on five British insurance companies to stop covering aviation fuel deliveries to Myanmar following the airstrike on Sagaing Region that caused an estimated 168 deaths, reports the Irrawaddy.
“Any company involved in the supply chain delivering aviation fuel to Burma is potentially complicit in airstrikes against civilians and should stop immediately,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. “Without insurance, vessels cannot deliver aviation fuel.”
What’s wrong with the G7 statement on Myanmar? – Mark Farmaner in DVB
The G7 just issued a communiqué which condemned airstrikes, and called for an arms embargo and the release of all political prisoners, writes Burma Campaign UK\’s Director Mark Farmaner for the Democratic Voice of Burma.
However, the foreign ministers didn’t pledge to do a single thing about the human rights violations they condemn, or the problems they highlighted. They made not one commitment for action.
More than that, companies from G7 countries are still helping to fund the Myanmar military and the human rights violations they commit. G7 members have failed to provide funding for the people they call for humanitarian access to. The G7 calls for things they know won’t happen and support things which they know have already failed.
Read Mark Farmaner’s op-ed article in DVB
British Parliament debates human rights in Myanmar
The UK Parliament today held a Westminster Hall debate on human rights in Myanmar.
Rushanara Ali MP, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Burma, said “I welcome some of the steps that our Government have taken, but the fact remains that sanctions against the Burmese military’s sources of incomes are too slow to be implemented. Even after two years, there are organisations and individuals who remain untouched by sanctions, including those working in major revenue generators such as gas, banking and mining.”
FCDO Minister Andrew Mitchell MP said “Conflict-related deaths in Myanmar last year were second only to Ukraine.” Afterwards the BCUK team met Mr Mitchell, who said he would look again at further aviation fuel sanctions.
Watch the debate on Parliament Live TV
Junta frees more than 3,000 prisoners – RFA
Myanmar’s junta has granted amnesty to 3,015 prisoners to mark the Burmese New Year, reports Radio Free Asia, but only one political prisoner was among them.
“If any political prisoners have been released it is obviously good news for them and their families, but there are still thousands of political prisoners in jail. None of them should be in prison,” Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK told RFA. “The international community must not forget Burma’s political prisoners.
“We need to see stronger international action to support people in Burma and to cut off sources of funds and arms to the military, including sanctions on the supply of aviation fuel to help stop the devastating military airstrikes, like the attack in Sagaing region last week.”
Burma Campaign UK at NASUWT conference
Burma Campaign UK’s Amy Rosenberg at the NASUWT conference this weekend.
Many thanks to NASUWT, the teachers’ union, for their continuing support.
New summer book club selections include Zoya Phan’s autobiography – The Globe
“Undaunted: My Struggle for Freedom and Survival in Burma”, by Zoya Phan, our Programme Director, will be featuring at Kivu Immigration Law’s Summer Book Club, reports The Globe. Selected books will center around immigration and international conflict and will feature nationalities and cultures that are represented in Worthington, Minnesota, USA.
“Undaunted: My Struggle for Freedom and Survival in Burma” is the US title of Zoya Phan’s autobiography, published in the UK as “Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West”.
Businesswoman sanctioned for supplying junta tied to 10 more firms in Myanmar – the Irrawaddy
The sole owner and director of UK-sanctioned, Singapore-registered Shoon Energy Pte Ltd (formerly Asia Sun Aviation), is the director of at least 10 companies in Myanmar, reports the Irrawaddy.
Burma Campaign UK has welcomed new UK sanctions targeting companies supplying aviation fuel, arms and aircraft parts to the Myanmar military.
“These sanctions are well targeted, prioritizing suppliers of aviation fuel and arms brokers, but a complete ban on British companies supplying aviation fuel to Burma is the only way to ensure no British companies are complicit in airstrikes against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK.
New UK aviation fuel sanctions welcome, but complete ban needed – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK welcomed new UK sanctions targeting companies supplying aviation fuel, arms and aircraft parts to the Burmese military, reports Mizzima. The sanctions follow similar sanctions targeting aviation fuel announced by the USA.
“These sanctions are well targeted, prioritising suppliers of aviation fuel and arms brokers, but a complete ban on British companies supplying aviation fuel to Burma is the only way to ensure no British companies are complicit in airstrikes against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The British government has the right policy in seeking to cut off sources of revenue, arms and aviation fuel but they are implementing the policy far too slowly.”
Myanmar’s military jet fuel supplies hit by latest US sanctions – Al Jazeera
Jet fuel for Myanmar’s armed forces has been targeted in the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on the military regime and crony businesses, reports Al Jazeera.
The US imposed sanctions on two people and six entities connected to Myanmar’s military, who had enabled the regime’s continuing atrocities.
These sanctions were the latest by the US against firms and individuals linked to the country’s military rulers. The EU and the UK have also imposed rounds of sanctions designed to isolate the military government.
Mark Farmaner interviewed by BBC Burmese
BBC Burmese interviews Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, about the recent private hearing on Myanmar affairs in the UN Security Council.
“Yet another UN Security Council meeting on Myanmar,” Mark Farmaner told BBC Burmese. “The people of Myanmar are not even allowed to know what was being discussed about their own country. It was a private meeting and we’ve seen no outcome.”
“We are not seing Myanmar being given the political prioritisation or attention [compared to Ukraine],” Mark Farmaner said. “The people of Myanmar have been very clear in their demands to the international community. Cut the revenue, cut the arms, deny legitimacy.”
Watch BBC Burmese interview (2.05 – 6.38 and 12.38 – end, dubbed into Burmese)