Wai Hnin Pwint Thon interviewed – Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News report on the near-total internet blackout in Burma, where the leaders of a military coup are facing a rising tide of protests.
The streets of the city of Yangon were filled with angry demonstrators, demanding the release of the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was detained following the army take-over last weekend.
Channel 4 News interviewed Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK and the daughter of Mya Aye, who was detained after the coup along with other democracy veterans.
Democracy veterans, once again political prisoners – Yahoo Singapore News
Carrying just a small bag, Mya Aye was escorted from his home in the dead of the night by soldiers just as an internet blackout shrouded the country and a dawn coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi.
“He prepared a little backpack by the door with clothes and toothpaste,” said Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Officer and the daughter of Mya Aye, of her father’s contingency plan in the event that whispered rumours of an imminent putsch proved true. “He was arrested twice before so it’s something he is used to.”
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon says Western countries need to impose new targeted sanctions to military-linked institutions and businesses.
She says she does not want other Myanmar people to live through the imprisonment of their loved ones. “The first time I saw my dad was when I was four years old through iron bars at Insein prison. The next generation could live through this again. Children will go see their parents behind bars — this is not the life we want.”
Aung San Suu Kyi remanded after being charged with possessing ‘illegal’ radios – Sky News
Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained in Monday’s coup, was charged after police said they found four illegally imported handheld radios at her home.
The police said the reason for detention was “to question witnesses, request evidence and seek legal counsel after questioning the defendant”.
Burma Campaign UK commented: “The reality is that they are jailing her because they remain terrified of her.”
UK Parliament debates the military coup in Burma
25 MPs from all sides of the House of Commons questioned the Minister of State for Asia, Nigel Adams, following his update on the coup in Burma.
Burma Military Coup – UK Must Sanction Military Companies
The Burmese military, led by Min Aung Hlaing, has arrested many political leaders and human rights activists, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, in night time raids. They have declared a state of emergency for one year.
Governments, including the UK have issued statements of concern or condemning the coup, but none have yet announced any practical action.
The top demand of human rights activists in Burma is to sanction military companies. The military has a huge business empire in Burma including everything from beer to toothpaste, mobile phone networks and ports. International companies enter into joint ventures with these companies or provide equipment or services to them.
Sanctions on military companies would stop international companies doing business with the military and stop them making profits which pay for coups and genocide.
Email the British Foreign Secretary now:
Tell Dominic Raab to immediately impose sanctions on military companies so that no British company can do business with the military.
How Burma’s fragile push for democracy collapsed in a military coup – TIME
Mark Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK, has told TIME that the military coup in Burma may have been engineered for personal reasons.
“This could be being driven by the personal ambitions of Min Aung Hlaing, who was due to retire in six months,” he told TIME. “He has also used his position to ensure his family have lucrative businesses interests, which he won’t be in a position to protect after retirement.”
Mark Farmaner said that the coup represents a significant change in strategy for the military, but that it will put them under increased pressure: “It is very hard to see how the military can benefit from this coup. They will face protests and renewed international sanctions.”
Submission from Burma Campaign UK to Foreign Affairs Committee – Xinjiang’s detention camps
Burma Campaign UK’s evidence to the British Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on Xinjiang’s detention camps, and how it relates to the failure of UK policy regarding Burma, has now been published.
BCUK calls for a national strategy for atrocity prevention, a comprehensive law on Universal Jurisdiction, more effective economic sanctions for human rights abusers, and more active work in United Nations bodies.
Stop the Burmese military using Facebook – Republika
Indonesia’s Republika reports that Burma Campaign UK has asked Facebook to prevent the Burmese army from using this platform to recruit members, promote their companies’ products and improve their business.
Kirin beer can’t tell if it’s funding the military – ASEAN Today
Japanese beer corporation Kirin has said that an assessment of its ties with the Myanmar military was “inconclusive” as to the company’s role in human rights abuses and military operations.
Burma Campaign UK and other rights groups have expressed disappointment in Kirin’s announcement.
“Kirin are making themselves look ridiculous trying to claim they can’t find out if the Burmese military uses its money for military purposes,” said Burma Campaign UK Director Mark Farmaner.
Kirin remains on BCUK’s Dirty List.
Facebook urged to prevent Myanmar army campaign – Anadolu Agency / SonDakika
The Turkish Anadolu Agency and SonDakika report on Burma Campaign UK’s call for Facebook to stop the Burmese military from using its platform to recruit members and from promoting its businesses on the site.
“Donald Trump has been suspended for inciting violence, but the Burmese military commit violence against civilians every day and are free to use Facebook to recruit soldiers to commit that violence,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK.
“Military owned companies are allowed to use Facebook to promote products, the profits from which fund the military and help fund violations of international law, including genocide of the Rohingya,” he added.