Target sanctions on Burmese military – Mint Press News
Experts say targeted sanctions, rather than general criticism, are the best way to help the Rohingya, reports Mint Press News.
Arguing for pressure to be placed on individual governments to stop feting Min Aung Hlaing, Mark Farmaner said “He loves his international trips – going abroad and luxury dinners. He’s posting it on his Facebook all the time.”
Criticism should focus on Min Aung Hlaing – Al Bawaba
The international community should focus its attention on the Burmese army chief to stop the violence in Rakhine State, Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told the Al Bawaba Middle East news service. “There is one person in Burma who has the responsibility for what’s happening and has the power to stop it and that is Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military,” he said.
Mark Farmaner interviewed on BBC World at One
The Burmese army’s systematic campaign of terror against the Rohingya is the “biggest human rights crisis Burma has faced in decades”, Mark Farmaner told the BBC’s World at One today. He called for visa bans against Min Aung Hlaing and other army chiefs, an end to the British military training programme, and a global arms embargo.
Listen to BBC interview – 23.30 minutes in
British foreign aid used to train the Burmese army – Daily Mail
Burma Campaign UK has called for an immediate halt to the British foreign aid training programmes that are provided for free to the Burmese military.
‘British taxpayers will be horrified to learn that their tax money is spent training an army of rapists and child killers,’ Mark Farmaner told the Daily Mail.
UK should stop funding Burmese army, Mark Farmaner tells Karen News
Mark Farmaner, the Director of Burma Campaign UK, supported a statement from the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemning the violence against the Rohingya but criticized the British government for its continued funding of the Burma Army, reports Karen News.
“Boris Johnson is right to call for action by Aung San Suu Kyi, but why has he let Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military, off the hook. Min Aung Hlaing’s soldiers are the ones killing hundreds of Rohingya and he is the only person in Burma with the power to order soldiers to stop attacking Rohingya villagers, shooting children and burning families alive in their homes. It’s time Britain stopped training the Burmese Army, which is committing crimes against humanity.”
Boris Johnson warns Aung San Suu Kyi – the National
Burma Campaign UK said that Boris Johnson’s critical comments on Burma could have gone further, according to the Middle East news service The National.
Burma Campaign UK’s director, Mark Farmaner, said that the British government needs to be pressurising Ming Aung Hlaing, the armed forces’ commander-in-chief, in order to halt the attacks. He also said the Foreign Secretary should have explicitly referred to human rights violations. “Why no mention of mass killings, burning villages or use of the words human rights?”
Boris Johnson should criticise Min Aung Hlaing, Mark Farmaner tells BBC
Burma Campaign UK’s director, Mark Farmaner, believes the foreign secretary could have gone further in his remarks urging Aung San Suu Kyi to do what she can to end the violence in Rakhine State.
He said Mr Johnson should have also criticised the armed forces’ commander-in-chief: “Min Aung Hlaing’s soldiers are the ones killing hundreds of Rohingya and he is the only person in Burma with the power to order soldiers to stop attacking Rohingya villagers, shooting children and burning families alive in their homes.”
Government should go further, Mark Farmaner tells Telegraph
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, welcomed the UN Security Council discussion on Burma requested by the UK, but called on the British Government to go further in its objections to the current situation in Rakhine.
“Supporting Aung San Suu Kyi and reforms in Myanmar doesn’t mean the British government has to stand by and do nothing as hundreds of Rohingya are slaughtered by the military,” he said.
Former loyalists lose faith in Aung San Suu Kyi – Washington Post
Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK, one of several former Aung San Suu Kyi supporters interviewed by the Washington Post, said that while Suu Kyi may be constrained by the political situation, there are many areas where she has the freedom to act and has not done so.
“There are problems which will take years to resolve, but freeing political prisoners, repealing repressive laws and ending aid restrictions to displaced Rohingya can be done now,” he said.
Burma Campaign UK urge pressure on Myanmar army chief – Anadolu Agency
“There is only one person in Burma who can order the soldiers to stop killing Rohingya civilians and stop burning down villages,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told the Turkish news agency. “The international community needs to personally name Min Aung Hlaing when making calls for restraint or an end to abuses … He needs to feel personal pressure and be named and shamed for his actions.”