Streets go silent amid national strike to mark two years since coup – the Telegraph
The streets of Yangon were completely empty today as citizens carried out a nationwide “silent strike” to protest the military coup that plunged the country into a deadly civil war exactly two years ago, reports the Telegraph.
The junta announced a six-month extension to the state of emergency, likely delaying elections.
Zoya Phan interviewed by Geneva Summit
“The military is boasting about nationalism and independence but they are ultimately dependent on Russia and China for their survival” says Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Manager, in a recent interview with the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
“At the same time, Western countries are still involved in the supply chain in bringing aviation fuel to Burma. The military receives more support from the international community than the democracy movement.
“Our top priority is to stop the supply of aviation fuel to Burma because of the humanitarian crisis caused by Burmese military airstrikes. The second is to assist those in crisis with humanitarian aid. We are also supporting activists to effect change in civil society in Burma at large.”
Vale Earth Fair 2022 donates £27,000 to humanitarian causes – Channel Eye
Following another sell-out year the Vale Earth Fair collective has been able to donate £9,000 each to three humanitarian causes, reports Channel Eye. One of these is Burma Campaign UK, and Karin Valtersson, their Campaigns Officer, attended the Vale Earth Fair on behalf of the organisation last year.
Karin Valtersson said: “Campaigning works, but successes usually take a long time to achieve. We are so grateful for the support we get from the Vale Earth Fair and to all the volunteers that give their time and energy to support our cause for a free and democratic Burma. This incredible support will mean that we have the funds to keep campaigning. It is vital for our work and for the people of Burma.”
Vale Earth Fair 2022 was most profitable ever – BBC
Guernsey’s Vale Earth Fair 2022 was the event’s most profitable year since it began 46 years ago, reports the BBC.
The annual music festival is run by volunteers and all profits are donated to charity. The 2022 festival sold out and was able to donate £27,000, split equally between three humanitarian causes. Burma Campaign UK received £9,000.
A very big thank you to Vale Earth Fair for their generous support, helping us campaign for human rights in Burma.
Global powers must join forces, take action to dethrone Min Aung Hlaing – Otago Daily Times
Global action is needed to topple Myanmar’s criminal junta boss, reports New Zealand’s Otago Daily Times, quoting the Guardian article below.
Burma Campaign UK’s director Mark Farmaner said the UN security council’s first-ever resolution on Myanmar does not go far enough, with no mention, for example, of a long-sought global arms embargo. “Russia, China and India are using their seats on the security council to protect their profitable dodgy arms deals with the Burmese military.”
Global action is needed to topple Myanmar’s criminal junta boss – the Guardian
Self-serving calculations explain China’s decision not to veto last month’s first-ever UN security council resolution on Myanmar, which called for an end to violence and the freeing of all political prisoners, says the Guardian. Following Beijing’s lead, Russia also abstained. Now comes the hard part: ensuring the junta complies.
Burma Campaign UK complains the UN resolution does not go far enough, with no mention, for example, of a long-sought global arms embargo. “Russia, China and India are using their seats on the security council to protect their profitable dodgy arms deals with the Burmese military,” said director Mark Farmaner.
Activists want the UK and other governments to block supplies of aviation fuel, to stop the junta launching air strikes. Too many international companies still do business in Myanmar. All concerned actors, international and domestic, must join together to dethrone the region’s worst regime since the Khmer Rouge.
Mark Farmaner interviewed by BBC Burmese
BBC Burmese interviews Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, about the UN Security Council Resolution on Burma.
Mark Farmaner said it is a very significant, historic moment, but the resolution does not go far enough. Neither calling for a global arms embargo nor addressing the genocide of the Rohingya, it will have no practical impact.
Watch BBC Burmese interview (first item, ends at 3.55, dubbed into Burmese)
UN Security Council resolution demands end to Myanmar violence – Al Jazeera
The United Nations Security Council has adopted its first resolution on Myanmar in 74 years, which demands an end to violence and calls on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners, reports Al Jazeera.
Burma Campaign UK welcomed the resolution but said it would have “no practical impact” and that imposing a global arms embargo on Myanmar’s military should have been a “no-brainer first step”.
“The supply of arms doesn’t even get a mention in the resolution,” said Mark Farmaner, BCUK’s director. “Russia, China and India are using their seats on the Security Council to protect their profitable dodgy arms deals with the Burmese military. At the United Nations it might be seen as a diplomatic coup to get this resolution passed but in Burma it will have no impact for people living under a military coup.”
Burma Campaign UK welcomes new UK Burma sanctions – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK has welcomed new sanctions against the Myanmar junta announced by the British government, this time focused on perpetrators of sexual violence, reports Mizzima.
“These new sanctions are welcome, but the pace of implementation of sanctions is far too slow,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “There were reports of sexual violence against arrested protesters in March 2021, and the mass rape of Rohingya women took place in 2016 and 2017. Why is there such a big time-lag between these crimes and the sanctions? Ministers must allocate more resources to swiftly implementing targeted sanctions. There are numerous companies funding the Burmese military which haven’t been sanctioned yet. British companies are still involved in the supply of aviation fuel to Myanmar, despite airstrikes against civilians causing a human rights and humanitarian crisis.”
Call for Qatar to stop hosting Myanmar military vessels – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK has called on the Qatari government – currently hosting the football world cup – to stop allowing cargo vessels owned by the Myanmar military to dock at ports in Qatar, reports Mizzima.
“By allowing Burmese military-owned vessels to use Qatari ports, Qatar is helping the Burmese military to raise funds to commit the human rights violations which Qatar condemns,” said Mark Farmaner, Director at Burma Campaign UK. “It is not consistent for Qatar to condemn human rights violations by the Burmese military but do business with them at the same time. Qatar must ban the Burmese military from using its ports.”