2 November, 2023
Senator the Hon. Penny Wong
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Via email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dear Minister Wong,

Re: Enhancing Australian Sanctions for Myanmar

We, the undersigned 414 organisations, commend the Australian Government’s imposition of targeted sanctions on 16 individuals and 2 entities in Myanmar on February 1st, 2023.

To meaningfully impact the junta’s financial resources and demonstrate solidarity with Myanmar’s pursuit of federal democracy, we urge Australia to amplify its sanctions efforts, aligning with our global democratic allies. Currently, Australian sanctions account for just 2% of international sanctions against Myanmar.

The junta’s actions have resulted in the loss of over 4,000 thousands of lives, the unjust detention of tens of thousands who oppose the attempted military takeover, and widespread reports of torture and conflict-related sexual violence. This crisis has led to mass displacement, both within Myanmar and as refugees to neighbouring countries.

Urgent measures are vital to curb junta access to foreign revenue, impede their ability to continue harming civilians, and ensure accountability for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Myanmar Campaign Network and the undersigned organisations strongly reiterate our call for sanctions on the following high-value targets, covering whole networks of companies, their directors, and shareholders, in coordination with Australia’s democratic allies:

State-Owned Enterprises: Many of these entities yield significant revenue for the junta, especially in the natural resource sectors, while state-owned banks facilitate payments for the junta, including for the purchase of arms. Some of the state-owned companies have links to Australian-sanctioned military conglomerates Myanma Economic Holdings Public Company Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited (MEC). Key targets include: Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), Myanmar Mining Enterprises No. 1 & 2 (ME-1 and ME-2), Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE), Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE), Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE), Myanma Petrochemical Enterprise (MPE), Myanma Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB), Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank (MICB) and Myanma Economic Bank (MEB), together with their managing directors.

Banking sector and Cronies: Crony companies provide sources of revenue for the junta and, through crony banks, facilitate payments for the junta and its members. International Group of Entrepreneurs (IGE), and its linked bank, United Amara Bank (UAB), Kanbawza Group of Companies (KBZ Group) and its bank, KBZ Bank, Ayeyar Hinthar Group of Companies, and its bank A Bank (Ayeyarwaddy Farmers Development Bank), and Htoo Group of Companies, and its bank, Asia Green Development Bank (AGD Bank), among others, should be targeted for sanctions.

Arms manufacture and procurement: Entities and individuals involved in the manufacture and procurement of arms should be targeted for sanctions including the Office of the Chief of Defence Industries (OCDI), the Directorate of Procurement, the Office of the Quartermaster General, and the Myanmar military’s network of private arms brokers, including Dynasty Group of Companies, International Gateways Group of Companies, Myanmar Chemical & Machinery Group, Sky Aviator, Star Sapphire Group, and Synpex Shwe.

Aviation Supply Chain: Entities and individuals that facilitate the importation, storage, and distribution of jet fuel to Myanmar’s military should be targeted for sanctions, including Shoon Group of Companies (formerly Asia Sun Group of Companies). Disrupting jet fuel access will impede air strikes on civilians and limit military mobility.

Junta Leadership: Sanctions should be imposed on junta-appointed ministers, current and former State Administration Council (SAC) members, and their immediate families.

Union Election Commission: The junta-instated Commission and its officials should be sanctioned, underscoring Australia’s commitment to fair elections and democracy.

We believe Australia should join its democratic allies in coordinated efforts to impose targeted sanctions on entities and individuals crucial to financing and sustaining the junta’s actions. Such collective action can significantly contribute to restoring democracy and alleviating suffering in Myanmar.

We appreciate your dedication to democracy, human rights, and social justice. We hope that the Australian Government will take principled steps to address the Myanmar crisis effectively, reaffirming Australia’s commitment to these values.

Yours faithfully,

Myanmar Campaign Network and 414 organisations listed below, including 6 organisations whose names have been withheld for confidentiality.

Australia

1. Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
2. Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
3. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (Australia)
4. Australia Myanmar Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace
5. Australian Centre for International Justice
6. Australian Council For International Development (ACFID)
7. Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
8. Australian Education Union (AEU)
9. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
10. Australian South East Asian Network – ASEAN
11. Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU-SPSF)
12. Construction and General Division-CFMEU
13. Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU)
14. Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU)
15. National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)
16. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA)
17. Prosecute; don’t perpetrate
18. Publish What You Pay Australia
19. SEARCH Foundation
20. Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)
21. Transparency International Australia
22. Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
23. United Workers Union (UWU)
24. Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
25. Youth Heart Beams

CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia:

Australian Capital Territory

26. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) ACT
27. Mon National Council (MNC)

New South Wales

28. All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) – Australia Branch
29. All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
30. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
31. Burma Lawyer Council (BLC)
32. Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
33. Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
34. Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
35. Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
36. Justice for Myanmar, Hope and Peace
37. Kachin Association Australia
38. Matu Chin Community
39. Mindat Chin Community
40. Mon National Council (MNC)
41. Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
42. Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
43. Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
44. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA) NSW Chapter
45. NLD Solidarity Association (NSW chapter)
46. NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
47. Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
48. We Pledge CDM (Australia)
49. Zomi Association Australia Inc.

Northern Territory

50. Australia Burma Friendship Association Queensland State
51. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) Queensland Chapter
52. Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
53. Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
54. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
55. Patriotic War Veterans of Burma (PWVB)
56. Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
57. Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
58. Queensland Rohingya Community
59. Zomi Community Queensland

South Australia

60. Burmese Community – South Australia
61. Chin Community – South Australia
62. Falam Community – South Australia
63. Karen Community – South Australia
64. Matu Chin Community – South Australia
65. Mindat Community – South Australia
66. Mizo Community – South Australia
67. Zo Community – South Australia
68. Zomi Community – South Australia

Tasmania

69. Bamar Community Tasmania
70. Chin Community Tasmania
71. Kayin Community Tasmania

Victoria

72. Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
73. Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMON)
74. Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
75. Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
76. Burmese Welfare Association of Victoria (BWAV)
77. Karenni Community
78. Mon Families Group
79. Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
80. NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
81. Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
82. Victoria Myanmar Muslim Community Inc.
83. Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
84. Zomi Association Australia Inc.

Western Australia

85. Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) WA Chapter
86. BMT Counselling
87. Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
88. Chin Youth Organization
89. Institute of Chin Affairs
90. Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
91. Karenni/Kayah Community
92. Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
93. Perth Myanmar Youth Network
94. Pyit Taing Htaung Social Club
95. Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
96. Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
97. Western Australia Myanmar Community (WAMC)
98. Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network (WAMDN)

Global Unions

99. Building and Wood Worker’s International (BWI)
100. Public Services International (PSI)
101. UNI Finance Global Union
102. UNI Global Union

International

103. ALTSEAN-Burma
104. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
105. Blood Money Campaign
106. Free Rohingya Coalition
107. Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy
108. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
109. International Campaign for the Rohingya
110. Justice For Myanmar
111. Myanmar Refugee Policy Group
112. Progressive Voice
113. Women Activists Myanmar

Global Strike Coordination Body

114. 5/ of Zaya State Strike
115. Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
116. All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
117. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
118. Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC-Mandalay)
119. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
120. A-Yar-Taw People Strike
121. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
122. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
123. Civil Information Network (CIN)
124. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
125. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
126. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
127. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
128. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
129. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
130. Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
131. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
132. Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
133. Kachin Student Union
134. Kalay Township Strike Force
135. KantBaLu Strike Committee
136. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
137. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
138. LGBT Alliance
139. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
140. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
141. LGBT Community Yangon
142. LGBT Union – Mandalay
143. Monywa LGBT Strike
144. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
145. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
146. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
147. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
148. Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
149. Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
150. Daung Sitthe Strike
151. Industries Strike
152. Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
153. Mandalar University Students’ Strike
154. Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
155. Mandalay-based People’s Strike
156. Mandalay Youth Strike
157. Multi-Religions Strike
158. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
159. Mya Taung Strike
160. No.12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
161. Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
162. Seinpann Strike
163. MayMyo Strike Force
164. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
165. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
166. All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
167. Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
168. Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
169. National League for Democracy (Monywa Township)
170. Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
171. Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
172. The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
173. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
174. Myaung Youth Network
175. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
176. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
177. Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
178. Shwe Pan Kone People’s Strike Steering Committee
179. Taze Strike Committee
180. Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
181. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
182. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
183. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
184. Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
185. Dawei ( Ashaetaw) Women Strike
186. Depayin Women Strike
187. Gangaw Women Strike
188. Kalay Women Strike
189. Mandalay Women Strike
190. Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
191. Monywa Women Strike
192. Taze Women Strike
193. Thayat Chaung Women Strike
194. Wetlet Township Women Strike
195. Yangon Women Strike
196. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
197. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
198. Yasakyo Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
199. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee

Czech Republic

200. Educational Initiatives Prague
201. Integria, z.u. Prague

France

202. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
203. Info Birmanie

Germany

204. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland

India

205. India For Myanmar

Ireland

206. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
207. Burma Action Ireland
208. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
209. CRPH Funding Ireland

Korea

210. Asian Dignity Initiative
211. Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (Korea)
212. Korean Civil Society in Support of Democracy in Myanmar (106 CSOs)

Myanmar/Thailand

213. Action Committee for Democracy Development (Coalition of 14 grassroots networks)
214. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
215. Democratic Youth Council -ဒီမိုကရက်တစ် လူငယ်ကောင်စီ
216. Future Light Center
217. Future Thanlwin
218. Generation Wave
219. Human Rights Foundation of Monland
220. Kachin State Civilian Movement_KSCM
221. Karenni Human Rights Group
222. Karenni National Women’s Organization
223. Kyauktada Strike Committee
224. Muslim Youth Network
225. MyaYar Knowledge Tree
226. Rangoon Scout Network – RSN
227. Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
228. School of Governance and Public Administration
229. Sisters 2 Sisters
230. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
231. Southern Dragon Myanmar
232. Ta’ang Women’s Organization
233. Thailand for Burma
234. Universities Kachin Literature and Culture Association – (Yangon JLH)
235. Volunteers in Myanmar

New Zealand

236. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
237. All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
238. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
239. Auckland Zomi Community
240. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu,NZ)
241. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
242. Chin Community of Auckland
243. Citizen Of Burma Award – New Zealand
244. Dunedin Myanmar Community New Zealand
245. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
246. Karenni Society New Zealand
247. Kayan International Network – New Zealand
248. Myanmar Community Christchurch New Zealand
249. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
250. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
251. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
252. Nelson Myanmar Community New Zealand
253. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
254. New Zealand Karen Association
255. New Zealand Zo Community Inc
256. Overseas Mon Association New Zealand
257. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
258. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
259. Shan Community (New Zealand)
260. Wellington Chin Community (New Zealand)
261. Wellington Karenni Community – New ZealandNorway
262. Aung San Suu Kyi Park, Norway
263. Chin Community in Norway
264. CRPH Support Group, Norway
265. Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
266. K’cho Ethnic Association
267. Kachin Association Norway
268. Karenni Association – Norway
269. Matu Burma Foundation
270. Mon Association – Norway
271. Myanmar Baptist Churches in Norway
272. Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
273. Myanmar Community in Norway
274. Myanmar Hindu Community – Norway
275. Myanmar Muslim Organization – Norway
276. NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
277. Norway Falam Community
278. Norway Matu Community
279. Norway Rawang Community
280. Rohingya Community in Norway
281. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
282. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
283. Zomi Community Norway

Sweden

284. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)

Switzerland

285. Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland)
286. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)

USA

287. Alliance for Democracy in Myanmar
288. Alliance for Democracy in Myanmar
289. Austin Myanmar Community
290. Burmese American Democratic Alliance
291. Burmese American Women Alliance
292. Burmese Chin Community of Atlanta
293. Chin Community San Francisco Bay Area
294. Help Myanmar
295. Kachin Culture and Literature Association
296. LA2M Los Angeles Myanmar Movement
297. Multi-Ethnic Community
298. Myanmar Diaspora for Democracy
299. Myanmar Students’ Union – Skyline College (ABFSU)
300. Myanmar Student Union Skyline College (ABFSU)
301. Save Myanmar San Francisco
302. U.S. Campaign for Burma

The names of 6 organisations have been withheld for confidentiality.

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