Myanmar’s military junta is facing a female fightback – Zoya Phan
Two years after the coup, women are defying the generals’ misogyny by overturning gender stereotypes and mounting political and armed resistance, writes Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Manager, for Chatham House.
Despite having killed at least 2,300 pro-democracy activists and arbitrarily detaining 16,000 more, the country’s military rulers, the Tatmadaw, are facing unprecedented resistance. Women are bearing the brunt of the military response in the country’s civil war – more than a million people have been displaced since February 2021, most of whom are women and children. Yet in the horrors of the past two years, on the political front and, to a certain extent, on the battlefield women have been playing a key role.
Donors must increase aid for the female civil society organizations that support Myanmar’s women – the people who have the most to gain from creating the just and equitable society that it is hoped will emerge from the conflict.
Burma Campaign UK welcomes new UK sanctions on Myanmar but wants more – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK welcomed new UK sanctions targeting suppliers of aviation fuel to the Burmese military, but claimed they do not go far enough, reports Mizzima.
Anna Roberts, BCUK’s Executive Director said: “The British government is spot on, targeting suppliers of aviation fuel to the military, but they need to go further and faster to cut supplies to Burma, as the military seize civilian supplies of aviation fuel.”
BCUK is extremely disappointed by the incredibly slow pace of the implementation of sanctions. “Two years on from the attempted coup starting there are still numerous sources of revenue and arms which have yet to be sanctioned,” said Anna Roberts. “The snail’s pace of sanctions implementation allows the military to access more revenue and arms. Foreign Office ministers need to devote more resources to the speedy implementation of sanctions.”
Foreign Office response to supporter letters calling for sanctions on aviation fuel
Thank you to all our supporters that wrote to the Foreign Secretary calling on the UK government to impose sanctions on aviation fuel.
Here is their response:
Streets go silent amid national strike to mark two years since coup – the Telegraph
The streets of Yangon were completely empty today as citizens carried out a nationwide “silent strike” to protest the military coup that plunged the country into a deadly civil war exactly two years ago, reports the Telegraph.
The junta announced a six-month extension to the state of emergency, likely delaying elections.
Zoya Phan interviewed by Geneva Summit
“The military is boasting about nationalism and independence but they are ultimately dependent on Russia and China for their survival” says Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Manager, in a recent interview with the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.
“At the same time, Western countries are still involved in the supply chain in bringing aviation fuel to Burma. The military receives more support from the international community than the democracy movement.
“Our top priority is to stop the supply of aviation fuel to Burma because of the humanitarian crisis caused by Burmese military airstrikes. The second is to assist those in crisis with humanitarian aid. We are also supporting activists to effect change in civil society in Burma at large.”
Vale Earth Fair 2022 donates £27,000 to humanitarian causes – Channel Eye
Following another sell-out year the Vale Earth Fair collective has been able to donate £9,000 each to three humanitarian causes, reports Channel Eye. One of these is Burma Campaign UK, and Karin Valtersson, their Campaigns Officer, attended the Vale Earth Fair on behalf of the organisation last year.
Karin Valtersson said: “Campaigning works, but successes usually take a long time to achieve. We are so grateful for the support we get from the Vale Earth Fair and to all the volunteers that give their time and energy to support our cause for a free and democratic Burma. This incredible support will mean that we have the funds to keep campaigning. It is vital for our work and for the people of Burma.”
Vale Earth Fair 2022 was most profitable ever – BBC
Guernsey’s Vale Earth Fair 2022 was the event’s most profitable year since it began 46 years ago, reports the BBC.
The annual music festival is run by volunteers and all profits are donated to charity. The 2022 festival sold out and was able to donate £27,000, split equally between three humanitarian causes. Burma Campaign UK received £9,000.
A very big thank you to Vale Earth Fair for their generous support, helping us campaign for human rights in Burma.
Global powers must join forces, take action to dethrone Min Aung Hlaing – Otago Daily Times
Global action is needed to topple Myanmar’s criminal junta boss, reports New Zealand’s Otago Daily Times, quoting the Guardian article below.
Burma Campaign UK’s director Mark Farmaner said the UN security council’s first-ever resolution on Myanmar does not go far enough, with no mention, for example, of a long-sought global arms embargo. “Russia, China and India are using their seats on the security council to protect their profitable dodgy arms deals with the Burmese military.”
Global action is needed to topple Myanmar’s criminal junta boss – the Guardian
Self-serving calculations explain China’s decision not to veto last month’s first-ever UN security council resolution on Myanmar, which called for an end to violence and the freeing of all political prisoners, says the Guardian. Following Beijing’s lead, Russia also abstained. Now comes the hard part: ensuring the junta complies.
Burma Campaign UK complains the UN resolution does not go far enough, with no mention, for example, of a long-sought global arms embargo. “Russia, China and India are using their seats on the security council to protect their profitable dodgy arms deals with the Burmese military,” said director Mark Farmaner.
Activists want the UK and other governments to block supplies of aviation fuel, to stop the junta launching air strikes. Too many international companies still do business in Myanmar. All concerned actors, international and domestic, must join together to dethrone the region’s worst regime since the Khmer Rouge.
Mark Farmaner interviewed by BBC Burmese
BBC Burmese interviews Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, about the UN Security Council Resolution on Burma.
Mark Farmaner said it is a very significant, historic moment, but the resolution does not go far enough. Neither calling for a global arms embargo nor addressing the genocide of the Rohingya, it will have no practical impact.
Watch BBC Burmese interview (first item, ends at 3.55, dubbed into Burmese)