Many killed in motor-powered paraglider bombing at protest in Myanmar – Northeast Bylines
At least 26 people died in Myanmar at a combined festival and protest against the brutal military junta, when a motor-powered paraglider (paramotor) dropped bombs.
Northeast Bylines asked Zoya Phan from Burma Campaign UK for her comment on this paramotor bombing incident. Zoya said: “The Burmese military have been escalating airstrikes and military offensives across Burma in recent weeks ahead of sham elections they are planning at the end of this year. It is clear, the use of airstrikes by the Burmese military targeting civilian places is a deliberate strategy to generate fear and maximise casualties.
“The international community cannot let these war criminals continue to bomb people with total impunity. The UK, EU, USA, and other governments must impose more targeted sanctions to limit the ability of the Burmese military to carry out these deadly airstrikes. We ask governments around the world to cut international support, including arms, revenue, equipment, and aviation fuel.”
Refugees facing starvation in war-torn Myanmar – Northeast Bylines
Aid agencies are warning that Rakhine State will soon see people starving, reports Northeast Bylines. As a result, the World Food Programme has issued an urgent appeal for more donations to avoid a “full-blown disaster”.
Zoya Phan, BCUK’s Programme Director, told Northeast Bylines: “International donors must immediately reverse long term aid cuts to camps hosting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Existing donors must increase funding for both refugees in Bangladesh and internally displaced civilians in Rakhine State. To be able to do so, Bangladesh must lift restrictions on cross-border aid delivery for Rohingya, Rakhine and other civilians who cannot be reached from central Burma. Rakhine State is facing imminent threat of famine and needs urgent attention. World leaders must not ignore it.”
Mark Farmaner interviewed by Radio France Internationale
Mark Farmaner, Burma Campaign UK’s Director, told RFI: “For the refugees in Bangladesh and the Rohingya still in Burma, there is no hope that the situation will improve and that they can go home. In fact, every day, more and more refugees try to flee Rakhine State.
“We have seen the Arakan Army, a resistance army made up mainly of ethnic Rakhine, take control of almost all the State. But it commits the same human rights violations against the Rohingya as the official army. The Rohingya are thus caught in a vice between two violent armed forces, neither of whom want them to stay in Burma.”
Another sham election in Myanmar? – Northeast Bylines
New elections are planned by the Burmese military for the end of this year, reports Northeast Bylines, quoting Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing paper: ‘The Burmese Military’s ‘Elections’: New Date, New Danger, Same Sham.’
Zoya Phan, BCUK’s Programme Director, commented: “The Burmese military is so desperate for international legitimacy. This coming sham election is nothing about political reform or genuine peace in the country. History has already shown that the Burmese military is not interested in genuine peace, they just want to consolidate their power and continue their authoritarian rule. The UK and the rest of the world must not fall into Burmese military’s election trap. Instead, the UK must increase sanctions on the Burmese military and provide tangible support for the people.”
Read BCUK’s new briefing paper
Airbus divests from Chinese arms company following global campaign – KIC News
Airbus has divested from AVIC, a Chinese aircraft and arms manufacturer which supplies the Burmese military with the jets they use to bomb schools, hospitals and homes.
Justice for Myanmar and Blood Money Campaign groups including Burma Campaign UK have welcomed the withdrawal of investment.
Thank you all for taking action on this. Too many international companies are still doing business with the Burmese military, including AVIC, as you can see from our Dirty List. We will keep campaigning to make sure international companies cut all links to the Burmese military.
Read the statement from Justice For Myanmar and Info Birmanie
Zoya Phan speaks at Kachin protest at UK FCDO
Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, spoke today at a protest at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to mark the 14th anniversary of resumed war in Kachinland. The Kachin community calls on the British government and the international community to do more to cut off the supply of money, arms, equipment and jet fuel to the Burmese military.
Unspeakable Tragedy: Zoya Phan speaks at report launch
Our Programme Director Zoya Phan spoke at today’s launch of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’s new report on Burma, “Unspeakable Tragedy”. She joined Tim Loughton, Dr. Sasa, Ben Rogers and Baroness Hodgson on the panel.
Zoya said: “The international community and the British government must not repeat past mistakes on Burma, where they were supporting the fake reform process by the Burmese military, lifting sanctions and allowing them to buy jets and weapons that they now use to kill our people.
“The British government needs to take the lead on international action again. We need regular and targeted sanctions that will cut off the Burmese military’s money, arms and equipment. We need increased and more flexible aid, including in different ethnic areas, through local groups and civil society organisations who do amazing work but often can’t access funding.”
Tim Loughton, Dr Sasa, Zoya Phan
Burn After Reforming: Mark Farmaner podcast for Insight Myanmar
“The military will never reform. And every time the international community bets on it, they lose.”
Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, doesn’t mince words in his podcast for Insight Myanmar. With decades of experience advocating for Myanmar, he shares why past strategies have failed — and what the world must do now to support real change.
From the fading influence of Aung San Suu Kyi to the growing strength of grassroots resistance, Farmaner offers a powerful insider’s perspective on the country’s unfolding crises — and why he still believes in a future free of military rule.
Hear his call to action. Understand the stakes. This is one conversation you don’t want to miss.
United Voices: Zoya Phan speaks in UK Parliament
Our Programme Director Zoya Phan joined a panel discussion in the UK Parliament, United Voices: A discussion about Freedom in North Korea, China, Uyghur, Tibet, Hong Kong and Burma.
This event was co-hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea and Fortify Rights. Speakers included David Smith MP, the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, John Glen MP, Ben Rogers, Senior Director at Fortify Rights, and human rights activists across Asia.
Zoya Phan with David Smith MP
“Testimonies From Beyond” exhibition opens in London
Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, and Sai, an artist and activist from Burma, were among the speakers at the launch of Burma Video Journalists’ new powerful exhibition “Testimonies from Beyond”, at the Koppel Collective in London.
The exhibition draws attention to the atrocities committed by the Burmese military junta against the people of Burma, specifically attacks on civilians: airstrikes on monasteries and homes, sexual violence against women, and the abduction and murder of villagers. It features the last belongings that victims had on them before they were killed.
