The European Union has finally imposed sanctions on the two big military owned conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. These conglomerates own dozens of companies whose profits go to the military. It is a huge success to get the EU to impose these sanctions.
Several European companies had business links to the military and these business relationships will now be illegal. Thank you to everyone who joined our campaign and emailed EU member states.
We will be in touch soon regarding a new campaign to get the EU to now impose sanctions on the timber and gems industries, which earn the military hundreds of millions of dollars.
Death toll keeps rising
More than 700 people have now been killed by the military since the coup, and more than 3,000 arrested.
In Karen State the military has been bombing civilian villages using fighter jets, killing more than 20 people, including a child, and destroying schools and homes. Fighter jets are also bombing in Kachin State.
Despite this, every day people are still taking to the streets, organising protests, strikes and resisting military rule anyway they can. Their bravery is not being matched by the international community. Every action the international community takes is only the result of sustained campaigns and pressure on them to act. We have to keep up the pressure.
On Friday, the formation of a National Unity Government in Burma was announced, formed by MPs elected in the November 2020 elections, activists and other community representatives. The international community should recognise the National Unity Government instead of the military dictatorship.
Providing aid, saving lives, mobilising international action
Our international advocacy is having an impact, starting to cut revenue going to the military. We have also seen Australia stop training the military and South Korea impose an arms embargo. We need to step up our campaigning to increase international pressure on the military.
At the same time, we are providing life-saving aid to tens of thousands of people in Burma. We are paying for food for thousands of villagers in Karen State who have had to flee bombings by the Burmese military.
We have given support to people involved in protests who had to flee arrest, torture and jail.
And we have funded healthcare for people affected by the coup.
For security reasons we can’t tell you everything we are doing. We can tell you we have saved lives.
