Open Letter: Enhancing Australian Sanctions for Myanmar
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
- Action Against Myanmar Military Coup (Sydney)
- Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
- Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (Australia)
- Australia Myanmar Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace
- Australian Centre for International Justice
- Australian Council For International Development (ACFID)
- Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
- Australian Education Union (AEU)
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF)
- Australian South East Asian Network – ASEAN
- Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU-SPSF)
- Construction and General Division-CFMEU
- Finance Sector Union of Australia (FSU)
- Independent Education Union of Australia (IEU)
- National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)
- NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA)
- Prosecute; don’t perpetrate
- Publish What You Pay Australia
- SEARCH Foundation
- Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA)
- Transparency International Australia
- Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
- United Workers Union (UWU)
- Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
- Youth Heart Beams
CRPH/NUG Support Group Australia:
Australian Capital Territory
- Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) ACT
- Mon National Council (MNC)
New South Wales
- All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF) – Australia Branch
- All Young Burmese League (AYBL)
- Australian Karen Organisation (AKO)
- Burma Lawyer Council (BLC)
- Burmese Community Development Collaboration (BCDC)
- Burmese Community Support Group (BCSG)
- Burmese Medical Association Australia (BMAA)
- Industrial Training Centre (ITC) Family Sydney
- Justice for Myanmar, Hope and Peace
- Kachin Association Australia
- Matu Chin Community
- Mindat Chin Community
- Mon National Council (MNC)
- Myanmar Community Coffs Harbour (MCC)
- Myanmar Engineering Association of Australia (MEAA)
- Myanmar Professionals Association Australia (MPAA)
- Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA) NSW Chapter
- NLD Solidarity Association (NSW chapter)
- NSW Karenni (Kayah) Communities
- Sydney Friends for Myanmar Unity
- We Pledge CDM (Australia)
- Zomi Association Australia Inc.
Northern Territory
- Australia Burma Friendship Association Queensland State
- Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) Queensland Chapter
- Burma Lawyers’ Council (BLC)
- Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA)
- NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
- Patriotic War Veterans of Burma (PWVB)
- Queensland Kachin Community (QKC)
- Queensland Myanmar Youth Collective (QMYC)
- Queensland Rohingya Community
- Zomi Community Queensland
South Australia
- Burmese Community – South Australia
- Chin Community – South Australia
- Falam Community – South Australia
- Karen Community – South Australia
- Matu Chin Community – South Australia
- Mindat Community – South Australia
- Mizo Community – South Australia
- Zo Community – South Australia
- Zomi Community – South Australia
Tasmania
- Bamar Community Tasmania
- Chin Community Tasmania
- Kayin Community Tasmania
Victoria
- Anti-Myanmar Dictatorship Movement
- Anti-Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (AMMON)
- Australian Burmese Muslim Organisation
- Australian Chin Community (Eastern Melbourne Inc)
- Burmese Welfare Association of Victoria (BWAV)
- Karenni Community
- Mon Families Group
- Myanmar Democracy and Peace Committee (Australia)
- NLD Solidarity Association (Australia)
- Shwe Youth Democratic Alliance (SYDA)
- Victoria Myanmar Muslim Community Inc.
- Victorian Myanmar Youth (VMY)
- Zomi Association Australia Inc.
Western Australia
- Australian Karen Organisation (AKO) WA Chapter
- BMT Counselling
- Chin Community of Western Australia Inc.
- Chin Youth Organization
- Institute of Chin Affairs
- Kachin Association of Australia WA Inc.
- Karenni/Kayah Community
- Myanmar Democratic Movement (MDM)
- Perth Myanmar Youth Network
- Pyit Taing Htaung Social Club
- Red Campaign Nirvana Exhortation Group
- Remonya Association of WA (Mon Community)
- Western Australia Myanmar Community (WAMC)
- Western Australia Myanmar Democratic Network (WAMDN)
Global Unions
- Building and Wood Worker’s International (BWI)
- Public Services International (PSI)
- UNI Finance Global Union
- UNI Global Union
International
- ALTSEAN-Burma
- ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
- Blood Money Campaign
- Free Rohingya Coalition
- Global Movement for Myanmar Democracy
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution
- International Campaign for the Rohingya
- Justice For Myanmar
- Myanmar Refugee Policy Group
- Progressive Voice
- Women Activists Myanmar
Global Strike Coordination Body
- 5/ of Zaya State Strike
- Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
- All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
- Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
- Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC-Mandalay)
- Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
- A-Yar-Taw People Strike
- CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
- Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
- Civil Information Network (CIN)
- Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
- Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
- Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
- Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
- General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
- General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
- Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
- Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
- Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
- Kachin Student Union
- Kalay Township Strike Force
- KantBaLu Strike Committee
- Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
- Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
- LGBT Alliance
- LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
- LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
- LGBT Community Yangon
- LGBT Union – Mandalay
- Monywa LGBT Strike
- Magway People’s Revolution Committee
- Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
- Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
- Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
- Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
- Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
- Daung Sitthe Strike
- Industries Strike
- Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
- Mandalar University Students’ Strike
- Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
- Mandalay-based People’s Strike
- Mandalay Youth Strike
- Multi-Religions Strike
- Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
- Mya Taung Strike
- No.12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
- Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
- Seinpann Strike
- MayMyo Strike Force
- Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
- Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
- All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
- Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
- Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
- National League for Democracy (Monywa Township)
- Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
- Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
- The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
- Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
- Myaung Youth Network
- Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
- Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
- Shwe Pan Kone People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Taze Strike Committee
- Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
- University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
- Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
- Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
- Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
- Dawei ( Ashaetaw) Women Strike
- Depayin Women Strike
- Gangaw Women Strike
- Kalay Women Strike
- Mandalay Women Strike
- Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
- Monywa Women Strike
- Taze Women Strike
- Thayat Chaung Women Strike
- Wetlet Township Women Strike
- Yangon Women Strike
- White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
- Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
- Yasakyo Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
Czech Republic
- Educational Initiatives Prague
- Integria, z.u. Prague
France
- Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
- Info Birmanie
Germany
- CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany-Deutschland
India
- India For Myanmar
Ireland
- Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
- Burma Action Ireland
- CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
- CRPH Funding Ireland
Korea
- Asian Dignity Initiative
- Global Myanmar Spring Revolution (Korea)
- Korean Civil Society in Support of Democracy in Myanmar (106 CSOs)
Myanmar/Thailand
- Action Committee for Democracy Development (Coalition of 14 grassroots networks)
- Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters
- Democratic Youth Council -ဒီမိုကရက်တစ် လူငယ်ကောင်စီ
- Future Light Center
- Future Thanlwin
- Generation Wave
- Human Rights Foundation of Monland
- Kachin State Civilian Movement_KSCM
- Karenni Human Rights Group
- Karenni National Women’s Organization
- Kyauktada Strike Committee
- Muslim Youth Network
- MyaYar Knowledge Tree
- Rangoon Scout Network – RSN
- Save and Care Organization for Ethnic Women at Border Areas
- School of Governance and Public Administration
- Sisters 2 Sisters
- Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
- Southern Dragon Myanmar
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization
- Thailand for Burma
- Universities Kachin Literature and Culture Association – (Yangon JLH)
- Volunteers in Myanmar
New Zealand
- 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
- All Burma Democratic Face in New Zealand
- Auckland Kachin Community NZ
- Auckland Zomi Community
- Burmese Community Group (Manawatu,NZ)
- Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
- Chin Community of Auckland
- Citizen Of Burma Award – New Zealand
- Dunedin Myanmar Community New Zealand
- Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
- Karenni Society New Zealand
- Kayan International Network – New Zealand
- Myanmar Community Christchurch New Zealand
- Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
- Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
- Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
- Nelson Myanmar Community New Zealand
- New Zealand Doctors for NUG
- New Zealand Karen Association
- New Zealand Zo Community Inc
- Overseas Mon Association New Zealand
- Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
- Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
- Shan Community (New Zealand)
- Wellington Chin Community (New Zealand)
- Wellington Karenni Community – New ZealandNorway
- Aung San Suu Kyi Park, Norway
- Chin Community in Norway
- CRPH Support Group, Norway
- Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
- K’cho Ethnic Association
- Kachin Association Norway
- Karenni Association – Norway
- Matu Burma Foundation
- Mon Association – Norway
- Myanmar Baptist Churches in Norway
- Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
- Myanmar Community in Norway
- Myanmar Hindu Community – Norway
- Myanmar Muslim Organization – Norway
- NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
- Norway Falam Community
- Norway Matu Community
- Norway Rawang Community
- Rohingya Community in Norway
- Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
- Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
- Zomi Community Norway
Sweden
- Karen Swedish Community (KSC)
Switzerland
- Association Suisse-Birmanie (Switzerland)
- International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
USA
- Alliance for Democracy in Myanmar
- Alliance for Democracy in Myanmar
- Austin Myanmar Community
- Burmese American Democratic Alliance
- Burmese American Women Alliance
- Burmese Chin Community of Atlanta
- Chin Community San Francisco Bay Area
- Help Myanmar
- Kachin Culture and Literature Association
- LA2M Los Angeles Myanmar Movement
- Multi-Ethnic Community
- Myanmar Diaspora for Democracy
- Myanmar Students’ Union – Skyline College (ABFSU)
- Myanmar Student Union Skyline College (ABFSU)
- Save Myanmar San Francisco
- U.S. Campaign for Burma
The names of 6 organisations have been withheld for confidentiality.
