UK firm helped to prepare Rohingya ‘prison island’ – Telegraph
A British civil engineering company is facing criticism for its involvement in resettling Rohingya refugees on a “prison island” in the Bay of Bengal, reports the Telegraph. The Bangladeshi Navy is sending refugees to the island as punishment for escaping the world’s largest refugee camp, Kutupalong in Cox’s Bazar.
The island is prone to flooding and is unfit for human habitation because it lies less than than three metres above sea level and its inhabitants risk being submerged during next month’s monsoon.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said: “Without the expertise of HR Wallingford, Bangladesh would have been unable to prepare the island and imprison Rohingya on it against their will.”
Read Telegraph article (behind paywall)
Burma Campaign UK gives evidence on the Rohingya crisis to the UK Parliament
Burma Campaign UK was one of several human rights and humanitarian organisations invited to give written evidence to the International Development Committee of the British Parliament on the Rohingya crisis. All the evidence is now available to read on the Parliament website.
In Rakhine state, conflict and internet blackout mar COVID-19 response – Devex
The risk of large-scale community spread of the COVID-19 virus is extremely high in Rakhine State, where tens of thousands of people are displaced as a result of conflict, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya are confined in camps and villages and the government has imposed an internet blackout.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK reiterated international calls for the blackout to be lifted.
“The internet shutdown, designed to cover up human rights violations, will now mean more people die as they will not be able to access life-saving information about how to avoid catching and spreading the virus,” he told Devex.
Anna Roberts interviewed – VOA Burmese News
Anna Roberts, Burma Campaign UK’s Executive Director, was interviewed on VOA Burmese News about BCUK’s Dirty List and Boycott List campaigns.
Watch Anna Roberts interview (in Burmese, translated from English)
British company runs Yangon port that earns Myanmar military $3m a year – Myanmar Now
Campaigners have called on the UK-based Portia Management Services to end its relationship with KT Services and Logistics, which leases the TMT Ports shipping terminal in Yangon from a military-owned company.
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said: “As the company managing the port on behalf of KT Services, Portia Management is critical to ensuring the port makes enough money to pay for the lease from the military. This money funds the military and is helping to pay for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Portia Management is on BCUK’s Dirty List.
A welcome statement by the British Ambassador in Yangon
Today the British ambassador to Myanmar said:
“The increased violence in Rakhine State over the past few days is causing misery for many of the people living there. Today’s reported shelling of a school on Myanmar’s Children’s Day, following recent deaths of women and children, highlights the impact this is having on innocent people.
The UK Government urges all sides in the conflict to cease the fighting and do their utmost to protect civilians. It also urges the Government to lift the internet restrictions in Rakhine State which would help provide a better sense of what is happening. This would, in turn, help protect innocent people.”
The benefits (and risks) of investing in Myanmar – World Finance
In a special report, World Finance weighs up the pros and cons of investing in Burma.
The article points out that companies that have any connection to the military, which is usually held responsible for the crisis’ worst atrocities, have found themselves on Burma Campaign UK’s Dirty List. Facebook, in particular, has been singled out for criticism for allowing its platform to spread misinformation about the Rohingya Muslim community.
Genocide charge dents halo of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi – the Peninsula
Qatar’s Peninsula newspaper reports on the ruling by the International Court of Justice ordering Burma to take all possible measures to prevent genocide against the Rohingya – and the loss by Aung San Suu Kyi of “the remaining shreds of her hard-won international reputation”.
At home, by contrast, the Peninsula quotes Burma Campaign UK: “Undoubtedly, ahead of an election year, her decision to personally defend the case, making it about her, and using it as an opportunity to whip up nationalism, has boosted her public support ahead of an election year.”
Rohingya hail UN ruling that Burma act to prevent genocide – Associated Press
The United Nations’ top court has ordered Burma to do all it can to prevent genocide against the Rohingya people, reports the New York based Associated Press.
Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK, called the order “a major blow to Aung San Suu Kyi and her anti-Rohingya policies.”
Anna Roberts urged the international community to press Aung San Suu Kyi to enforce the court’s order: “The chances of Aung San Suu Kyi implementing this ruling will be zero unless significant international pressure is applied. So far, the international community has not been willing to apply pressure on Aung San Suu Kyi over her own appalling record on human rights.”
UN court orders Myanmar to protect Rohingya Muslims – New York Times
The New York Times reports on the International Court of Justice at The Hague’s ruling that Burma must take action to protect Rohingya Muslims, who have been killed and driven from their homes in what the country’s accusers call a campaign of genocide.
The decision is the first international court ruling against Burma over its military’s brutal treatment of the Rohingya. While the court has no enforcement power, any member of the United Nations can request action from the Security Council based on its rulings.
“The chances of Aung San Suu Kyi implementing this ruling will be zero unless significant international pressure is applied,” said Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK.