Myanmar’s military dictatorship won’t be around forever – Myanmar Now
Nant Zoya Phan, programme director of Burma Campaign UK, and Naw Wahkushee, director of Karen Peace Support Network, write in Myanmar Now:
“In our decades of interactions with presidents, prime ministers, government ministers and diplomats all over the world, one flawed assumption has underpinned their understanding and approach to our country. That assumption is that Myanmar’s military is somehow invincible.”
By contrast, KPSN’s recent report shows that the junta’s ability to control southeast Burma has significantly diminished since the February 2021 coup. And In Kachin, Chin and Karenni states the military is struggling to maintain or regain territory.
“We can’t say when the military will fall. But fall it will”, Zoya Phan and Wahkushee conclude. “We — and the world — need to be ready for what comes next.”
PM fails to raise Indian arms sales to Burmese military during G20 summit – Mizzima
Rishi Sunak did not even raise Indian arms sales to the Burmese military when he met Prime Minister Modi at the G20 summit, reports Mizzima.
Karin Valtersson, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK said: “Instead of human rights, Rishi Sunak appears to be prioritising economic opportunities, and India as a bulwark against China. However, with Modi becoming increasingly authoritarian domestically, and supporting brutal regimes internationally, it seems like a flawed approach to be subservient to Modi at the expense of the people of Burma, who want a genuine democracy and to be free of tyranny.
“The Foreign Secretary stated that engaging with China ‘doesn’t mean that we shy away from the tough conversations. It’s about voicing our concerns directly – face to face.’ When Rishi Sunak met with Modi face to face, he didn’t voice concerns directly, instead he did shy away.”
UK aid cuts to Rohingya now at 85% – Mizzima
The UK government”s total aid to Rohingya refugees halfway through this financial year is £16.9 million, which represents an 85% cut since 2019-2020, reports Mizzima.
“Over one million people, the majority of whom are children, are at risk of severe malnutrition and even death. The attempted military coup in Burma makes return of Rohingya to their homeland impossible in the short term. Genocide survivors are left to go increasingly hungry and desperate,” said Karin Valtersson, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK.
“Their choice is risking death in the camps, risking death at sea or risking death in Burma. James Cleverly and Andrew Mitchell could help make their lives more bearable in the camps until they can return to their land in Burma in genuine safety, but are choosing not to.”
44 global orgs urge G20 to pay urgent attention to rights issues – The Wire
44 organisations from around the world, including Burma Campaign UK, have urged the G20 countries – heads of state and governments of which are meeting in New Delhi – to pay their focused attention to the crisis unfolding in Myanmar, reports India’s The Wire.
“As representatives of the world’s foremost economies, you possess the influence and the moral duty to address this pressing issue” with the “sense of urgency, compassion, and unwavering commitment to justice” that it deserves, says the groups’ open letter to the G20.
India looks for academic cooperation with Myanmar junta – the Irrawaddy
Despite international condemnation of the 2021 coup and terror campaign against Myanmar’s civilians, India, the world’s largest democracy, has been deepening ties with the regime, reports the Irrawaddy.
As New Delhi is set to host the G20 summit, Burma Campaign UK has called on members to pressure India to stop supporting Myanmar’s junta. Myanmar’s civilian National Unity Government also urged G20 members on Wednesday not to ignore Myanmar’s crisis.
Seven Indian companies added to Myanmar ‘Dirty List’ – Mizzima
As India prepares to host the prestigious B20 Business Summit, ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, the role of Indian companies in funding and arming the Burmese military is receiving more attention, says Burma Campaign UK.
BCUK has added seven more Indian companies to the ‘Dirty List’ of international companies funding or arming the Burmese military or linked to human rights violations, reports Mizzima.
“Indian companies must stop arming and funding the Burmese military,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host the G20 summit, he should be called out over his support for the Burmese military. By providing money, arms and diplomatic support to the Burmese military, Modi is making India complicit in violations of international law.”
Burma Campaign UK at Vale Earth Fair
Burma Campaign UK’s director Mark Farmaner and his family were at Vale Earth Fair in Guernsey this weekend, raising money for the campaign for democracy in Burma with a throwing competition. Three poo’s for a pound, if you hit Min Aung Hlaing three times, win a lolly!
Big thanks as ever to Vale Earth Fair for their support for the campaign over so many years.
US jet fuel sanctions welcomed as tool to curb junta air strikes – Radio Free Asia
Myanmar’s shadow government, armed resistance and activists have welcomed the US Treasury Department’s expansion of sanctions targeting those who procure jet fuel the military regime uses in air strikes against civilians, reports RFA.
Amnesty International, Global Witness and Burma Campaign UK have issued reports urging the international community to sanction large energy companies that sell jet fuel to the junta, as well as the transportation and insurance companies that help the regime procure it.
Burma Campaign UK Director Mark Farmaner praised Washington’s response this week, calling it “one of the best things the U.S. government can do to prevent the human rights abuses and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.”
US expands sanctioning powers targeting Myanmar’s jet fuel industry amid airstrikes – Centre Daily Times
The Biden administration has expanded its Myanmar sanctions regime to target foreigners involved in the Asian nation’s jet fuel industry, reports the Centre Daily Times.
Applauding the sanctions, Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, said “The US has been playing whack-a-mole sanctioning Burmese linked companies involved in aviation fuel which then just change name or ownership. With this new determination the USA can now start sanctioning international companies and stop aviation fuel reaching Burma in the first place.
“The UK and EU must now follow the USA and ban UK and EU companies from being involved in aviation fuel deliveries to Burma.”
UN Security Council condemns Myanmar military over ‘unrelenting violence’ – Al Jazeera
Members of the United Nations Security Council – with the exception of veto-wielding China and Russia – have condemned the “unrelenting violence” raging across Myanmar following a closed-door briefing on the crisis, reports Al Jazeera.
The US Treasury Department announced it was further expanding its sanctions on Myanmar to include foreign companies or individuals helping the military procure jet fuel.
“The US has just put all international companies on notice that if they are directly or indirectly involved in the supply of aviation fuel to Burma, they could face sanctions,” Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK said. “Limiting aviation fuel deliveries is one of the most effective things the [US] can do to address the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Burma.”