Burma Campaign UK
The British government has welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi being placed under house arrest. The statement stood in stark contrast to western allies, who carefully avoided welcoming Aung San Suu Kyi being placed under house arrest. It is also notable for avoiding using the language political prisoners to describe political prisoners. This is not accidental. …
A new report released by Burma Campaign UK says Myanmar’s new civilian government remains dominated by military figures, says Mizzima TV in a short video on its You Tube channel. The report, Burma’s Rebranded Military Regime, describes the administration as a rebranded continuation of military rule, not a democratic transition. Real power remains concentrated within …
Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to house arrest in the capital, more than five years after her government was ousted in a coup, reports the Guardian. Campaigners accused Myanmar’s military leaders of a cynical PR campaign designed to gain international legitimacy, and of continuing its oppressive rule. “They use political …
Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest after more than five years behind bars. The decision to transfer Myanmar’s deposed former leader is viewed as an attempt to end the junta’s international isolation, reports the Telegraph. Mark Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK, said: “Moving Aung San Suu Kyi …
The US offensive against scam operations in Myanmar and Cambodia may not be extensive enough to stem the growth of the scam centers, reports Asia Sentinel. “The US is using standard law enforcement procedures for criminal activities that require a much more creative approach. Taking out top leaders won’t solve this problem, more junior members …
The Burmese military want to give the impression that there is a new civilian government ruling Burma (Myanmar). There isn’t. Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing explains why. The President and two Vice Presidents are from the Burmese military or Burmese military proxy political party. 86% of ministers running ministries are from the Burmese military or …
Blue Shirt Day is an annual occasion that takes place on 21 April, writes Minn Tent Bo, Advocacy and Communications Officer at Burma Campaign UK. It is not simply about people wearing a blue shirt; it is about standing against the ongoing practice of imprisoning, torturing, and disappearing political prisoners and the systematic effort to …
On 21 April, Myanmar’s New Year, Burma Campaign UK will participate in Blue Shirt Day to support over 14,000 political prisoners in Myanmar, reports Mizzima. The Burmese military have begun releasing political prisoners as part of a propaganda strategy following sham elections held in 2025 and 2026. However, thousands remain in jail, new arrests are being made, …
General Min Aung Hlaing, who ran the military regime in Burma yesterday, is running the military regime in Burma today, says BCUK’s new briefing paper analysing the outcome of December and January’s sham elections and the appointment of Min Aung Hlaing to the presidency. It does not matter who happens to be head of the …
Ban Yone and Amy Rosenberg from BCUK are at the NASUWT Teachers’ Union conference in Birmingham, raising awareness about the situation in Burma. Since the 2021 coup teachers joined the Civil Disobedience Movement, peacefully striking against the brutal military takeover. Since then, hundreds have been imprisoned and thousands have had to flee to avoid arrest. …
“It appears likely that Min Aung Hlaing will swap his leadership of the army for the presidency. Whatever the details, the junta will still be running the show, and bombing civilians – just while cosplaying as democrats”, says the Guardian in its editorial about Burma’s sham elections. Min Aung Hlaing has now been appointed president. …
Minn Tent Bo, Burma Campaign UK’s Advocacy and Communications Officer, spoke at this year’s Myanmar documentary film screening and Burmese food fundraiser in Bristol. Minn spoke about how we can stand together in solidarity against the military, the impact of the UK visa ban on Burmese students, and what Burmese students in Bristol can do …
“The UK’s ban on student visas for Myanmar students is an insult to a nation in turmoil”, writes Minn Tent Bo, Burma Campaign UK’s Advocacy and Communications Officer, for the Diplomat. “The decision contradicts the values that the U.K. claims to represent, to say nothing of its supposed support for democracy in Myanmar. The United …
Myanmar, Afghanistan, Sudan and Cameroon citizens will be barred from obtaining UK university visas, reports Turkiye’s TRT World. The British government said asylum applications by visiting students had “rocketed” nearly 500 percent from 2021 to 2025. Burma Campaign UK called the visa ban “exceptionally cruel and shortsighted”. Programme director Zoya Phan said “The opportunity to come …
Myanmar’s military junta yesterday announced that it had granted an amnesty to more than 7,000 prisoners convicted of financing or sheltering “terrorists,” its designation for the various groups opposing its rule, reports the Diplomat. Burma Campaign U.K. said that it was important for the outside world to recognize that the releases were “not a sign …
Burma Campaign UK is urging the British government to sanction the Arakan Army (AA) for carrying out international human rights violations against the people of Burma, reports the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). The AA has allegedly targeted regime soldiers and civilians, including the Rohingya, with summary executions, beheadings, torture, and sexual violence. “Allowing the …
1 February will mark five years since the military re-took control in Myanmar in a coup that ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The military celebrated the anniversary by declaring a sweeping win for their political party in a general election, widely denounced as a sham. But according to Mark Farmaner, director of Burma …
The International Development Committee, a Commons Select Committee, has published Burma Campaign UK’s evidence submission to its new inquiry into the future of UK aid. The inquiry was set up to examine how the UK can continue to deliver high impact international aid and development assistance in the face of a 40% budget cut as …
Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, Zoya Phan, shares her incredible story of growing up under military dictatorship in Burma with LADbible TV. “Born in the remote jungle, Zoya’s childhood ended the moment she saw a decomposing body floating down the river where her siblings played. Years later, under a brutal regime of ethnic cleansing Zoya …
Today the British Parliament held a debate on religious persecution in Myanmar, moved by Jim Shannon MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief. Burma Campaign UK briefed MPs beforehand and many raised issues we had highlighted, including it being more than a year since any new sanctions on …
“When western countries impose targeted sanctions or take other steps to promote human rights and democracy in Burma, China complains”, writes Burma Campaign UK’s Director Mark Farmaner in Labour Hub. “Western countries are interfering in the internal affairs of another country, they say. “China interferes in the internal affairs of Burma more than any country …
Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, Zoya Phan, was interviewed about the military dictatorship’s sham elections by Thailand-based Karen Vibes, which aims to inform, educate, and entertain with Sgaw Karen, Pwo Karen, English and Burmese language. Watch Karen Vibes interview (in Karen)
Burma Campaign UK has called for a revision of the British government’s approach to Myanmar, warning that the UK has slipped from “leaders to laggards” on human rights, reports Mizzima. The call comes as Myanmar’s junta moves ahead with what are widely seen as “sham elections” beginning 28 December. “When British government ministers have the …
Across the country in areas freed from Burmese military occupation, a bottom-up federal nation is being built, writes Naw Wahkushee, Director of Advance Myanmar’s partner Karen Peace Support Network, for Mizzima. Local people are finally in charge of their land and natural resources, and for the first time have a say in how they will …