Another UK retailer to boycott ‘blood gemstones’ from Myanmar – the Irrawaddy
UK retailer John Lewis and Partners will stop sourcing gems from Myanmar, reports the Irrawaddy.
“John Lewis have done the right thing by deciding to stop sourcing from Burma,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.
Burma Campaign UK is not calling for a blanket ban on gems from Myanmar. Rather, it is calling on companies to ensure the gems they sell have not been sourced in a way that provides money to help the junta buy weapons and/or fund a military that continues to commit atrocities.
John Lewis Partnership’s decision to stop buying gems from Myanmar follows an announcement in June by TJC—one of the biggest TV shopping channels and online jewellery retailers in the UK—that it had stopped selling rubies and gems from Myanmar.
John Lewis to stop sourcing gems from Burma – Professional Jeweller
National department store, John Lewis Partnership, has informed Burma Campaign UK that it will cease gem sourcing from Burma, reports the Professional Jeweller.
Burma Campaign UK had written to John Lewis, along with approximately 40 other retailers, asking them to ensure that – if they sell gems from Burma – they make sure that their sourced gemstones have not contributed to or helped fund the Burmese military.
Director of Burma Campaign UK, Mark Farmaner said: “John Lewis have done the right thing by deciding to stop sourcing from Burma.
“Retailers must ensure that the gems they sell haven’t helped pay for the bombs and the bullets the Burmese military are using against the people of Burma.”
Anna Roberts interviewed on Sky News
Anna Roberts, Executive Director at Burma Campaign UK, was interviewed on Sky News at lunchtime today.
“There are daily airstrikes by the military against civilians across the country. But those airstrikes rely on aviation fuel and Britain can play an important part by imposing sanctions on the supply of aviation fuel”, said Anna Roberts.
“This year British aid to Burma has been cut by around 50% and since the coup a staggering 70%. There are ways that the British government can increase funding to these civil society networks that are keeping people alive and safe.
“We need to see the international community using every pressure lever available, be that through targeted economic sanctions, through arms embargoes, through international justice.”
Myanmar mining and mineral export including jade falls by about 28% – Mizzima
Burma’s export of minerals including jade fell by about 28% in the first three months of this fiscal year, reports Mizzima.
Global Witness has urged the international community to boycott gems and jade mined in Myanmar and called for banning the export of these precious stones and minerals.
Burma Campaign UK says that the army fully controls the mining and trading of the gemstones mined in Myanmar, and could earn about US$2 billion from this business annually. From the the sale of these gemstones the army can buy arms and ammunition to be used in human rights violations in the country.
Junta forces raid state-owned oil, gas company – the Irrawaddy
Junta troops raided the office of state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) in Naypyitaw yesterday, detaining some senior officials for interrogation, reports the Irrawaddy.
The raid was allegedly prompted by the leak of information about a secret bank account set up by the office to allow the regime to bypass international financial sanctions. MOGE provides the regime with its biggest single source of revenue by selling oil and gas abroad. It has been sanctioned by the EU.
Burma Campaign UK has called on the British government to sanction the company, and Justice for Myanmar (JFM), a rights watchdog that monitors the junta’s businesses, has also called on governments, including those of the US and Japan, to do so.
Civilians on the sharp end of Myanmar fighter jet strategy – Mizzima
The junta rely more on the use of jet fighters and helicopter gunships, reports Mizzima, since the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) have gained significant ground. Well over 50 per cent of the country is effectively out of the control of the junta and the military have suffered ground troop losses.
Amnesty International’s research for their report “Deadly cargo: exposing the supply chain that fuels war crimes in Myanmar” was carried out in collaboration with Justice for Myanmar and with the support of other civil society organizations, including Burma Campaign UK, all of whom have been vocal on the need to switch off fuel supplies to the junta.
UK jewellery giant withdraws ‘blood gems’ funding Myanmar junta – the Irrawaddy
One of Britain’s biggest TV shopping channels and online jewellery retailers, TJC, is withdrawing Burmese rubies from sale, reports the Irrawaddy.
TJC’s move came after Burma Campaign UK challenged 40 of the UK’s major jewellery firms to prove the gems they sell are not sourced from Myanmar in ways that help fund the military regime.
TJC deserved praise for taking an ethical stance on the issue, said Burma Campaign UK director Mark Farmaner, adding that he hoped other British jewellery retailers would do likewise.
Mark Farmaner interviewed by VOA Burmese
VOA Burmese interviews Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, about our new gems campaign.
BCUK has written to 40 of the biggest and highest profile jewellery retailers in the UK asking them to demonstrate that the gems they sell are not sourced from Burma/Myanmar in ways which help fund the Burmese military. One retailer, TJC, has already replied, and BCUK welcomes its decision to withdraw Burmese rubies from sale.
Widespread worry about Myanmar rapper’s fate after arrest – Voice of America
The arrest of Byuhar, a popular rapper in Myanmar who strongly criticized the junta, has caused widespread alarm among his loved ones and fellow artists, reports VOA News.
VOA News quotes Burma Campaign UK: “More than 22,000 people have been detained [since the beginning of the coup], and political prisoners have been subjected to torture and sexual violence after their arrest. For the first time in decades, executions are occurring again. There is no freedom of speech, media outlets are banned or extensively censored, and internet access is restricted or blocked entirely.”
Spring Revolution Daily News – Mizzima
Mizzima’s Spring Revolution Daily News includes Burma Campaign UK’s announcement that 5 UK insurance companies have been blacklisted for their services on the fuel oil import to Myanmar’s military junta.
Mizzima reports on the military junta’s claim that they have started the provision of assistance to storm victims. In reality, local people stated that they have not had enough help. The junta arrested social workers helping the storm victims and hampered the entry of the United Nations and international organisations. They will also open schools as planned in Rakhine State, which was severely hit by Cyclone Mocha.