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.”
Burma army used Swedish-made shells to attach Karen forces – Karen News
The Burma army used Swedish made recoilless artillery shells to bomb the Karen National Army and their allies in recent fighting, reports Karen News, despite the munitions being prohibited.
In 2012 the Burma army used the same artillery in attacks against the Kachin Independent Army in Northern Burma – it is alleged the Swedish weapons were originally sold to India.
Burma Campaign UK called on the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson to call on Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to stop arms sales to the Burmese military.
“Modi supplies arms to the Burmese military knowing that they are likely to be used against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Boris Johnson must call on Modi to stop arming the Burmese military, and to stop deporting Rohingya refugees.”
Several Indian companies are on the ‘Dirty List’ published by Burma Campaign UK, including Tata Group, which has supplied vehicles to the Burmese military.
Education for Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh – Human Rights Watch
Burma Campaign UK was among 39 signatories of letters sent to leading donors to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis including the European Commission, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
These donors have provided crucial support for Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh. Education for many of those children is now in peril, reports Human Rights Watch.
The signatories ask these donors to publicly call on Bangladesh authorities to reverse their decision to close schools for tens of thousands of Rohingya children in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar who now have no access to education, and to urge like-minded governments to do the same.
Burma Campaign UK at NASUWT conference
Thank you NASUWT for the great support at your teachers conference this weekend.
Anna Roberts, Burma campaign UK’s Executive Director, at the NASUWT conference.
Chelsea Football Club sale hit with fresh controversy – Daily Mail
Fresh controversy has rocked the Chelsea bidding process, reports the Daily Mail. Roman Abramovich is being forced to sell Chelsea after being hit by sanctions from the UK Government due to his close links with Vladimir Putin.
A shortlist of preferred bidders established last month includes a consortium headed by the chair of Bain Capital, LA Dodgers owner Todd Boehly, the Ricketts family and a consortium led by Sir Martin Broughton. All of those bids have been hit by controversy.
Sir Martin Broughton’s bid has been criticised by Burma Campaign UK for his involvement with British American Tobacco and their relationship with the Burmese military.
No end in sight for Myanmar’s Karen insurgency – Nikkei Asia
The military takeover has reignited the ethnic minority group’s seven-decade revolt, reports Nikkei Asia.
Zoya Phan, campaign manager for Burma Campaign UK, believes the Karen are now more unified than ever before, coordinating their actions and political message. “Karen people in Karen National Union areas, outside them, at the Thai-Burma border, inside Thailand, around the world — we are all holding hands together,” she says.
Burma Campaign UK criticises Chelsea bid – ChinaCSR.com
Sir Martin Broughton, who has put in a bid for Chelsea FC, was criticized by Burma Campaign UK head Mark Farmaner, for his involvement in the British American Tobacco Company and the company’s alleged links with the military. The report comes from ChinaCSR.com, which provides news and information on corporate social responsibility and sustainability in China.
Burma Campaign UK criticises Chelsea bid – TV2
Former British Airways and Liverpool FC chairman Martin Broughton has been criticized on Twitter by director Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK for collaborating with the Burmese military, which ruled Myanmar for several decades, with the company British American Tobacco.
Ministers urged to bar bid for Chelsea – the Telegraph
The sale of Chelsea has been hit by fresh controversy after Parliament was told to throw out the shortlisted bid from Stephen Pagliuca, the co-chairman of Bain Capital, on the basis the club and Premier League must not be “contaminated” by “despicably corrupt business practice”.
The Telegraph reports that Sir Martin Broughton, who is heading another of the bids, was the target of criticism from Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, regarding his involvement at British American Tobacco and the company’s alleged relationship with the Burmese military.
US, UK, Canada sanctions target Myanmar air force, ‘arms dealers’ – Al Jazeera
The United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have imposed coordinated new sanctions on Myanmar in response to the military’s brutal crackdown on opponents to its rule, reports Al Jazeera. The sanctions focus on senior military officials, including the newly-appointed chief of the air force and those linked to the arms trade.
“Stopping Burmese military airstrikes is the most urgent priority, and it is very good to see the British government begin the process of targeting suppliers to the air force,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said as thousands were forced from their homes as a result of almost daily aerial bombardment.