Thailand’s grand welcome for visiting Myanmar leader sparks condemnation – the Independent
Thailand is facing criticism for rolling out the red carpet for Myanmar’s junta-chief-turned-president who is accused of committing crimes against humanity, reports the Independent. Rights advocates said Thailand risked helping rehabilitate a military ruler accused of overseeing brutal abuses during his country’s civil war.
“Min Aung Hlaing has taken Myanmar back to the path of full military dictatorship, not democracy,” said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. “Bestowing Min Aung Hlaing with the credibility and acceptance he craves is political miscalculation which will harm both Myanmar and Thailand.”
The new Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband must take action to support the people of Burma
Please write to the new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, calling on him to take action to support the people of Burma (Myanmar) and cut revenue and arms to the Burmese military.
Since Labour came to power two years ago practical action against the Burmese military stalled and then stopped.
- There have been no new sanctions against the Burmese military for almost two years.
- Aid cuts started to be reversed but now aid has been cut again, from £66 million a year to £55 million.
- No focus on human rights at the UN Security Council.
- No action to stop jet fuel reaching the Burmese military.
- Burmese military attaché Captain Soe Aung allowed to stay in the UK.
- No efforts to persuade more countries to impose arms embargoes.
The new government is an opportunity to change that.
Please write to the new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, calling on him to take action to support the people of Burma and take stronger action against the Burmese military.
11 international oilfield services companies added to BCUK’s Dirty List – Justice for Myanmar
Eleven international oilfield services companies have been added to Burma Campaign UK’s Dirty List of companies linked to the Myanmar military or to human rights violations and environmental destruction in the country, reports Justice for Myanmar.
The Burmese military carries out an airstrike every two and a half hours. Since the 2021 coup attempt, over 5,800 people have been killed by the Myanmar military’s aerial attacks through more than 12,000 attacks which have systematically destroyed schools, hospitals and places of worship.
The addition of these companies to the list reflects ongoing scrutiny of companies supporting the junta, and the failure of governments and companies to act to end their complicity in the junta’s international crimes.
Operators and US contractors among companies added to Myanmar ‘Dirty List’ – Upstream
Burma Campaign UK names more international players with links to the military-run nation, reports Upstream, an independent news service analysing the international energy industry.
Oil and gas sector players are among 53 companies that Burma Campaign UK has added to its ‘Dirty List’ of international companies with alleged links to the Burmese military, or human rights violations and environmental destruction in Burma, also known as Myanmar.
53 companies added to Burma Campaign UK ‘Dirty List’ – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK has added 53 companies to its ‘Dirty List’, which names and shames international companies linked to the Burmese military or human rights violations and environmental destruction in Burma, reports Mizzima. The total number of companies on the ‘Dirty List’ is now 228.
“Companies all over the world are providing support to the Burmese military, ranging from earning them money, selling arms and equipment, providing technology and allowing their platforms to be used for propaganda,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of BCUK. “No company can claim to have ethical or socially responsible policies and at the same time be linked to the genocidal Burmese military.”
UK cuts aid to Burma from £66 million to £55 million – Mizzima
Burma Campaign UK has condemned the British government’s decision to cut annual aid to Burma (Myanmar) from £66 million to £55 million in the current financial year, with the cut continuing until 2029 at least, reports Mizzima.
“British aid to Burma saves lives so these cuts will kill people,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of BCUK. “Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper just gave the Burmese military a helping hand by cutting aid to Burma. This government is failing the people of Burma, cutting off aid instead of cutting off arms and money going to the Burmese military.”
UK halves aid to Myanmar despite escalating humanitarian crisis – DVB
The British government is facing severe backlash after quietly reducing its humanitarian aid to Myanmar, a move that will cost lives and directly benefit the regime, reports DVB.
The cuts were detailed in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office annual report, which was published without an accompanying press release or public announcement.
Burma Campaign UK strongly condemned the decision. “British aid to Burma saves lives so these cuts will kill people,” said Anna Roberts, the executive director of BCUK. “Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper just gave the Burmese military a helping hand by cutting aid to Burma.”
British government under fire for ‘wrecking ball’ aid cuts – Straits Times
The British government faced growing criticism from non-governmental organisations after detailing severe cuts to overseas aid budgets, in some cases up to 90 per cent, for countries in Africa and Asia, reports Singapore-based Straits Times.
Myanmar will see aid slashed by nearly 30 per cent in the financial year to 2026-2027.
“British aid to Burma saves lives so these cuts will kill people,” said Anna Roberts, executive director of Burma Campaign UK. She accused Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper of “failing the people of Burma” by “cutting off aid instead of cutting off arms and money” to Myanmar’s military rulers.
Abused, tortured and killed: the women who disappear into Myanmar’s prisons – Northeast Bylines
There is increasing evidence of terrible gender-based violence and abuse in Myanmar’s prisons against female political prisoners since the coup of 2021, reports Northeast Bylines, citing the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners’ recent report.
Zoya Phan, Burma Campaign UK’s Programme Director, commented: “The Burmese military has used rape as a weapon of war for decades, mostly in ethnic areas. Now we are seeing widespread sexual abuse and rape against women political prisoners in central Burma as well. The international community has failed to take any action on accountability for these violations of international law. The Burmese military is a rapist military, women, children and the elderly are all their targets.
“UK Universal jurisdiction laws need to be changed to enable British courts to be used to prosecute rapist members of the Burmese military”.
Rights groups demand FIFA revoke Myanmar military World Cup broadcast deal – Streamline
Human rights groups are demanding that FIFA immediately evoke the exclusive 2026 World Cup broadcasting rights granted to Mytel, a telecom firm linked to the military regime, reports Streamline, a Kenyan community-owned platform. Justice For Myanmar and Burma Campaign UK quickly condemned the arrangement, highlighting the glaring ethical failures in FIFA’s due diligence protocols.
Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, issued a scathing rebuke of the governing body. He articulated that FIFA has chosen to prioritize corporate revenue over basic human rights, effectively endangering fans by driving them into the digital ecosystem of a surveillance state. The profits generated from subscription fees and advertising revenue, activists warn, will directly subsidize the military’s capacity to purchase munitions and suppress dissent.