Burma Campaign UK today welcomed new British government sanctions on two state-owned military controlled entities, Mining Enterprise 1 and Mining Enterprise 2. The military receives revenue from gems, metals, minerals, and rare earths through these two enterprises. Burma Campaign UK has been calling on the British government to sanction these entities since 2021.
The British government media release is here.
Last year Justice For Myanmar exposed that companies in British Overseas Territories were still linked to the mining industry in Burma.
The British government has also sanctioned 101st Light Infantry Division and 77th Light Infantry Division. Both are notorious for having a long track record of violations of international law, although these sanctions will be largely symbolic.
“Sanctions on these mining enterprises are long overdue and another important step in reducing revenue to the Burmese military,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The UK has fallen behind international partners in sanctioning sources of revenue to the Burmese military. The British government must now swiftly follow up with sanctions on the gas revenue and military controlled banks.”
Overall, the UK has been falling behind international partners in the past year.
GAS:
The European Union and USA have imposed sanctions on the military controlled Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), through which revenue from gas sales reaches the military.
The UK hasn’t.
STATE-OWNED MILITARY CONTROLLED BANKS:
The USA and Australia have sanctioned the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB), through which the military receives international revenue from gas, gems, minerals, and other exports.
The UK hasn’t.
AVIATION FUEL
Canada has banned Canadian companies from being involved in the supply chain delivering aviation fuel to Burma.
The UK hasn’t banned British companies from being involved in the supply of aviation fuel to Burma.
“There is no single thing that the British government can do to cut revenue to the Burmese military,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “It is the combination of sanctions and other measures which will have an impact. This is why it is vital that David Cameron uses every opportunity there is to cut off the supply of money, arms, and equipment to the military.”