Why is the UK government welcoming Aung San Suu Kyi’s house arrest? – 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. It is also a calculated decision that this statement came directly from a Minister, not a spokesperson or the Embassy in Burma.
Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing analyses this further softening in the British government’s approach to the Burmese military, which has echoes of the approach taken after 2010. It appears there is a danger of the mistakes that enabled genocide and the latest coup being made all over again.
Report warns Myanmar’s political transition masks continued military rule – Mizzima TV
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 the armed forces and allied networks.
Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi moved to house arrest in Naypyidaw – the Guardian
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 prisoners who should never have been in jail in the first place as public relations pawns,” said Burma Campaign UK. “At the same time, the Burmese military are stepping up airstrikes targeting health facilities and civilians.”
Aung San Suu Kyi moved from prison to house arrest – the Telegraph
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 isn’t about change or reform – it’s about public relations designed to preserve military rule. No-one should be fooled.”
US cyberscam crackdown in Myanmar, Cambodia insufficient – Asia Sentinel
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 step in to take control,” Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, told Asia Sentinel. “Scam centers proliferate in areas controlled by armed groups that have traditionally been allied with the Myanmar military. More support should be given to ethnic administrations in border areas which are trying to stamp out these centers.”
Myanmar is blacklisted by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force, because of the risk of money laundering and lack of financial controls, he added. “More should be done to investigate if it how the banking sector in Myanmar is being used to launder scam center money.”
Burma’s Rebranded Military Regime – Burma Campaign UK
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 the Burmese military proxy political party.
30% of ministers have been sanctioned for their role in human rights violations and the 2021 coup.
Blue Shirt Day: Minn Tent Bo writes for Mizzima
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 forget them. It is about refusing to give the Burmese military a propaganda boost to present its political prisons and torture facilities as places of reform and to portray sham elections as a new step for democracy. The purpose is to draw more international attention to political prisoners in the prison system and to demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners.
The Burmese military’s amnesties are nothing more than window dressing and its efforts to mask its continued rule as a civilian presidency are nothing more than a PR campaign using the laws on arbitrary detention and repression to do so. People are still being detained as pawns for such political manipulation. Blue Shirt Day is a modest reminder that these people cannot be forgotten and used as pawns and that, unless they are released, the blue shirts have yet to achieve their purpose.
Burma Campaign UK labels political prisoner amnesties as propaganda strategy – Mizzima
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, all repressive laws remain in place, and the military have made no commitment to free all political prisoners.
“The Burmese military’s theatrical releases of political prisoners should fool nobody,” said Minn Tent Bo, Advocacy and Communications Officer at BCUK. “Amnesties are designed to manipulate public opinion and buy international credibility, while the military continues to jail dissidents at will. Blue Shirt Day is a clear demonstration that people all over the world refuse to forget those suffering behind bars, and demand genuine justice, human rights and democratic freedoms for all in Burma.”
Burmese military rebrands, but never reforms – Burma Campaign UK
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 Burmese military at any given time, or what name they use for their proxy administration, it is the military as an institution which has ruled Burma for almost 60 years. They will always prioritise their own power and control and pursue their own racist Bamar Buddhist nationalist extremist vision of Burma.
The Burmese military will never reform. The only thing that changes are the forms of political system it uses to ensure its survival, and the tactics it uses to try to relieve pressure from the domestic population and international community.
Burma Campaign UK at NASUWT conference
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. The Burmese military has escalated attacks against civilians including attacking schools, with more than two hundred attacked in recent years.
Thank you for your support NASUWT International Solidarity.
Ban Yone and Amy Rosenberg at NASUWT conference in Birmingham.