Burma Campaign UK
The Turkish Anadolu Agency reports that leading global money transfer service Western Union has stopped using a military-owned bank as one of its agents in Burma. Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said that Western Union is the biggest company so far to end a business relationship with a military-owned company. “This move will …
The TV channel Rohingya Vision interviewed Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, following Western Union’s decision to drop military Myawaddy Bank as its agent as a result of BCUK’s Dirty List campaign. Watch YouTube clip
Frontier Myanmar report in their new daily email briefing that Burma Campaign UK claimed victory when Western Union dropped its partnership with the military-affiliated Myawaddy Bank, after a joint pressure campaign with the International Campaign for the Rohingya. BCUK said Western Union told it in an email: “Western Union has ended its contract with Myawaddy Bank, effective …
The Irrawaddy reports that Western Union, a US-based global financial transfer service, has cut ties with the military-owned Myawaddy Bank after human rights organizations called on the company to sever its links in light of accusations that the military is responsible for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. “Western Union deserve credit for doing …
Western Union Drops Military Myawaddy Bank As Its Agent Western Union is the latest company to be removed from our ‘Dirty List’ following confirmation that they have stopped using the military-owned Myawaddy Bank as one of their agents in Burma. They are the biggest company so far to cut their business ties to the military. …
The Financial Times reports that Kirin is to review its operations in Burma after the Japanese brewer’s partnership with a military-linked business drew fierce criticism from human rights groups, highlighting the growing reputational risks faced by multinationals doing business in Burma. Kirin is on Burma Campaign UK’s “Dirty List” of companies with alleged links to the …
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, accused Aung San Suu Kyi of “barefaced lying” during her testimony and said her civilian government was guilty of genocide. “Although she might be taking comfort that the country’s Buddhist majority is standing behind her on this case, she is actually polarising the country by letting other ethnic …
As Aung San Suu Kyi personally appeared at the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ highest court, to defend her country from charges of genocide, Time calls it a powerful reminder of how far the former human rights icon has fallen from grace in the eyes of the West. “There was a time when …
The employee-shareholders of New Belgium Brewing, one of the largest independent craft beer breweries in the US, are being urged to vote against a proposed takeover by Japanese beverage giant Kirin. Activists are hoping the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi’s government for genocide at the International Court of Justice will increase the pressure on …
VOA News reports on Aung San Suu Kyi’s appearance at the International Court of Justice to defend her government against accusations of genocide. Though Aung San Suu Kyi is not directly responsible for the military, Mark Farmaner of Burma Campaign UK argues the civilian government is also guilty of genocide. “Aung San Suu Kyi is …
Anna Roberts, Burma Campaign UK’s Executive Director, is at The Hague for the start of the genocide case against Burma at the International Court of Justice. She joins Karen and Kachin community activists in support of the Rohingya and Burma’s ethnic groups in their struggle for justice.
Frontier Myanmar reports on national and international reaction to Aung San Suu Kyi’s appearance at the International Court of Justice. Although the ICJ has no punitive power, if Burma is found to have committed genocide, activists may renew calls for sanctions, including targeted measures against business connected to the military. “If your business partner is …
Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, is among the experts asked by Dhaka Tribune what they think about Aung San Suu Kyi’s decision to lead the Burmese government’s delegation to the International Court of Justice to answer the charge of genocide. Mark Farmaner said: “The real problem with Aung San Suu Kyi is not …
Eve Tahmincioglu, a business journalist writing for Directors & Boards journal, reports on the follow up to her interview with CEO Hikmet Ersek about Western Union’s first environmental, social and governance report. Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told her: “I was surprised to see Hikmet Ersek describe his company as operating to the …
Myanmar Now reports that a popular American brewery with “ethical credentials”, the New Belgium Brewery, is voting on whether to sell up to a a subsidiary of Kirin, a company accused of funding the Burmese military’s abuses against ethnic minorities. Kirin is on Burma Campaign UK’s Dirty List for partnering with Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited, …
Byline Times reports on the lawsuit that has just been filed by the Gambia with the UN’s highest court, the International Court of Justice, formally accusing Burma of genocide. “To date, the international community has pretty much ignored all the recommendations of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, …
In a strongly worded opinion piece for Al Jazeera, Yanghee Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, writes: “The change that so many hope to see in Myanmar will not come to fruition while the army retains its current dominance. Unchecked trade and investment with military companies will only …
Overseas based Burma ethnic alliance and coalition groups issued statements welcoming Gambia’s lawsuit to the International Court of Justice for genocide against the Rohingya by the Burmese government. Karen News quotes Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK: “These legal cases will help put the military on notice that they cannot continue to evade justice …
Burma Campaign UK welcomes the decision of the International Criminal Court to go ahead with the investigation into alleged crimes against the Rohingya people from Burma. The Court may exercise jurisdiction over crimes when part of the criminal conduct takes place on the territory of a State Party. Burma is not a State Party but …
VOA News reports on the rise of heroin addiction in jade mining areas along the Chinese border in Kachin State. Corruption is rife in the region. Some law and mining officials illegally distribute the drug, which is largely smuggled in from neighbouring Shan state, according to Burma Campaign UK. Amphetamine addiction is also on the …
Radio Free Asia reports that residents of northern Shan state’s Pa-O Autonomous Region are up in arms over the Burmese government’s decision to extend the operation period of a Chinese-owned coal-fired power plant that they say has exceeded land use specifications, severely polluted the local environment, and jeopardized their health and their livelihoods. The Pa-O …
Burma Campaign UK today joins the climate strike. Burma is the second most vulnerable country in the world to climate change. Anna Roberts, Mark Farmaner and Karin Valtersson at the climate strike
The European Parliament today called on the EU to lead on referring Burma to the International Criminal Court. The current EU position is that it does not support a referral and the EU and EU External Action Service have a long track record of ignoring European Parliament Resolutions on Burma. Read European Parliament resolution
A new cross-party report by British MPs, two years on from the Rohingya crisis, is out today. It highlights the need for the British government to push for ICC referral, sanctions on military companies, a stronger position on Rohingya citizenship, and more long-term planning for humanitarian aid. Burma Campaign UK gave evidence to the inquiry …