Junta frees more than 3,000 prisoners – RFA
Myanmar’s junta has granted amnesty to 3,015 prisoners to mark the Burmese New Year, reports Radio Free Asia, but only one political prisoner was among them.
“If any political prisoners have been released it is obviously good news for them and their families, but there are still thousands of political prisoners in jail. None of them should be in prison,” Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK told RFA. “The international community must not forget Burma’s political prisoners.
“We need to see stronger international action to support people in Burma and to cut off sources of funds and arms to the military, including sanctions on the supply of aviation fuel to help stop the devastating military airstrikes, like the attack in Sagaing region last week.”
Burma Campaign UK at NASUWT conference
Burma Campaign UK’s Amy Rosenberg at the NASUWT conference this weekend.
Many thanks to NASUWT, the teachers’ union, for their continuing support.
New summer book club selections include Zoya Phan’s autobiography – The Globe
“Undaunted: My Struggle for Freedom and Survival in Burma”, by Zoya Phan, our Programme Director, will be featuring at Kivu Immigration Law’s Summer Book Club, reports The Globe. Selected books will center around immigration and international conflict and will feature nationalities and cultures that are represented in Worthington, Minnesota, USA.
“Undaunted: My Struggle for Freedom and Survival in Burma” is the US title of Zoya Phan’s autobiography, published in the UK as “Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West”.
Businesswoman sanctioned for supplying junta tied to 10 more firms in Myanmar – the Irrawaddy
The sole owner and director of UK-sanctioned, Singapore-registered Shoon Energy Pte Ltd (formerly Asia Sun Aviation), is the director of at least 10 companies in Myanmar, reports the Irrawaddy.
Burma Campaign UK has welcomed new UK sanctions targeting companies supplying aviation fuel, arms and aircraft parts to the Myanmar military.
“These sanctions are well targeted, prioritizing suppliers of aviation fuel and arms brokers, but a complete ban on British companies supplying aviation fuel to Burma is the only way to ensure no British companies are complicit in airstrikes against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK.
New UK aviation fuel sanctions welcome, but complete ban needed – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK welcomed new UK sanctions targeting companies supplying aviation fuel, arms and aircraft parts to the Burmese military, reports Mizzima. The sanctions follow similar sanctions targeting aviation fuel announced by the USA.
“These sanctions are well targeted, prioritising suppliers of aviation fuel and arms brokers, but a complete ban on British companies supplying aviation fuel to Burma is the only way to ensure no British companies are complicit in airstrikes against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The British government has the right policy in seeking to cut off sources of revenue, arms and aviation fuel but they are implementing the policy far too slowly.”
Myanmar’s military jet fuel supplies hit by latest US sanctions – Al Jazeera
Jet fuel for Myanmar’s armed forces has been targeted in the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on the military regime and crony businesses, reports Al Jazeera.
The US imposed sanctions on two people and six entities connected to Myanmar’s military, who had enabled the regime’s continuing atrocities.
These sanctions were the latest by the US against firms and individuals linked to the country’s military rulers. The EU and the UK have also imposed rounds of sanctions designed to isolate the military government.
Mark Farmaner interviewed by BBC Burmese
BBC Burmese interviews Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, about the recent private hearing on Myanmar affairs in the UN Security Council.
“Yet another UN Security Council meeting on Myanmar,” Mark Farmaner told BBC Burmese. “The people of Myanmar are not even allowed to know what was being discussed about their own country. It was a private meeting and we’ve seen no outcome.”
“We are not seing Myanmar being given the political prioritisation or attention [compared to Ukraine],” Mark Farmaner said. “The people of Myanmar have been very clear in their demands to the international community. Cut the revenue, cut the arms, deny legitimacy.”
Watch BBC Burmese interview (2.05 – 6.38 and 12.38 – end, dubbed into Burmese)
UK cuts aid to Rohingya refugees by 82% – Mizzima
Newly released figures have revealed that the British government has cut aid to around one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, most of them children, by a staggering 82%, reports Mizzima.
Burma Campaign UK is calling on UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to provide life-saving aid to Rohingya children by urgently reversing the cuts.
Karin Valtersson, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK said: “To make such deep cuts in support to hundreds of thousands of children who are completely dependent on aid is indefensible. Once children are stunted from malnutrition it is irreversible, they will suffer from health problems the rest of their lives.
“James Cleverly has done the right thing in imposing sanctions to cut off revenue to the military but now he is cutting off life-saving aid to the victims of the Burmese military as well. The British government ignored warnings about the impending genocide of the Rohingya and took no action to try to prevent it. Now they are failing the Rohingya again by making savages cuts in the aid they receive.”
Unmarked UN boats used to ferry junta officials to refugee camps – Radio Free Asia
Unmarked UN boats were used to ferry junta officials to refugee camps in preparation for a pilot project that would repatriate about 1,000 Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh to Myanmar, reports Radio Free Asia. The trip, a “public relations stunt”, created a “reputational risk” for all UN agencies and could jeopardize staff security.
Karin Valtersson, Burma Campaign UK’s Campaigns Officer, told RFA: “The situation inside Rakhine state is still a situation of ongoing genocide and they cannot return at this point, and I don’t think anyone will return. The reports that UN agencies have been involved are clearly shameful.”
Instead of returning, Rohingya refugees need support in the camps so they can have a decent living standard, with their security guaranteed, she said. “The security situation in the camps has deteriorated and they cannot be abandoned again by the international community.”
US, UK announce millions in humanitarian funding for Rohingya refugees – Myanmar Now
The US and the UK have announced humanitarian support packages worth 30 million dollars for Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh, reports Myanmar Now.
Burma Campaign UK has added five entities to its boycott list of Myanmar military-owned companies and brands.
“All embassies and aid donors in Burma should have policies not to buy goods and services from military companies, and that local and international NGOs cannot use their funds to purchase goods and services from military companies,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.