Statement 111 Views

Open letter: Special Envoy’s conflicts of interest signal urgent need for investigation and complete end of mandate

March 17th, 2025  •  Author:   290 Civil Society Organizations  •  9 minute read
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To:

United Nations Secretary-General
United Nations General Assembly

Open letter: Special Envoy’s conflicts of interest signal urgent need for investigation and complete end of mandate

17 March 2025

We—the undersigned 290 Myanmar, regional, and international civil society organizations—call on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to urgently open an investigation into conflicts of interest over the business activities of UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar Julie Bishop and make the findings public. We also call on the UN General Assembly (UNGA) to immediately end the mandate of the Special Envoy, and on the Secretary-General to assume a leadership role in addressing the crisis in Myanmar directly.

We are alarmed by the Special Envoy’s business activities and connections to the mining industry and Chinese state-owned companies with possible or confirmed commercial interests in Myanmar, including Shenghe Resources and China Communications Construction Company. Her involvement with Chinese state-owned companies raises serious concerns about the impartiality and independence required to engage with China as the Special Envoy on Myanmar. Such conflicts of interest actively endanger the human rights of the Myanmar people as China remains a top source of military support and false legitimacy for the illegal military junta. The Chinese government is evidently aiding and abetting the junta’s ongoing crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Myanmar people.

The UN’s response thus far is wholly unacceptable. As the appointing authority, the UN Secretary-General bears a significant responsibility to the people of Myanmar to ensure the integrity and impartiality of the Special Envoy. That the UN would allow the Special Envoy tasked with addressing the Myanmar crisis to continue given such blatant commercial interests that jeopardize the lives of the people of Myanmar, is unconscionable.

The Special Envoy’s conflicts of interest are the latest reminder that the UN’s decades of peace-brokering attempts through special envoys and “dialogues” have produced absolutely no meaningful, positive change for the people of Myanmar. Instead, this ongoing approach continues to embolden the junta to commit atrocity crimes with complete impunity and harm the people of Myanmar. Given the outdated and ineffectual mandate, civil society organizations have previously called for the UN to abolish the position. The UN must transform its destructive approach into principled, ethical, and concerted efforts that fully respect the human rights of the Myanmar people and support their collective will to dismantle military tyranny.

This moment must finally mark the end of the UN’s relegation of responsibility on the crisis in Myanmar. We urge the UNGA to immediately revoke the mandate of the Special Envoy, particularly given the current Special Envoy’s conflicts of interest that jeopardize the lives of the Myanmar people.

We call on the Secretary-General to immediately open an investigation regarding these conflicts of interest and publish the findings. The Secretary-General must urgently take the lead to end the military junta’s terror campaign, ensure accountability for the perpetrators under international law, and robustly support the Myanmar people’s revolution to build sustainable peace and an inclusive federal democracy.

For more information, please contact:

Signed by 290 civil society organizations, including 41 organizations that have chosen not to disclose their names:

  1. 5/ of Zaya State Strike
  2. 8888 Generation (New Zealand)
  3. A-Yar-Taw People Strike
  4. Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
  5. Action Committee of Basic Education Students (ACBES)
  6. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
  7. All Arakan Students’ & Youths’ Congress – AASYC
  8. All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
  9. All Burma Democratic Front in New Zealand
  10. All Burma Federation of Student Unions (Monywa District)
  11. Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
  12. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon – AJAY
  13. Anti-junta Forces Coordination Committee (Mandalay)
  14. Arakan Youth Peace Network – AYPN
  15. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
  16. Asian Health Institute (AHI)
  17. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
  18. Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
  19. Association Suisse-Birmanie
  20. Athan—Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
  21. Auckland Kachin Community NZ
  22. Auckland Zomi Community
  23. Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
  24. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation (AWDO), Nagphe
  25. Ayeyarwaddy West Development Organisation (AWDO), Magway
  26. Ayeyawady Youth Network (AYN)
  27. Basic Education General Strike Committee (BEGSC)
  28. Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
  29. Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
  30. Boat People SOS (BPSOS)
  31. Burma Action Ireland
  32. Burma Campaign UK (BCUK)
  33. Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN)
  34. Burma Task Force
  35. Burmese Community Group (Manawatu, NZ)
  36. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)
  37. Burmese Rohingya Welfare Organisation New Zealand
  38. Burmese Women’s Union (BWU)
  39. Campaign for a New Myanmar
  40. CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
  41. Chanmyatharzi Township People’s Strike
  42. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
  43. Chin Community in Norway
  44. Chin Community of Auckland
  45. Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
  46. Chindwin (West) Villages Women Strike
  47. Civil Information Network (CIN)
  48. Civil Rights Defenders (CRD)
  49. Civil Society Organizations Coordination Committee (Monywa)
  50. Co-operative University Mandalay Students’ Strike
  51. Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
  52. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
  53. CRPH Funding Ireland
  54. CRPH, NUG Support Team Germany
  55. Daung Sitthe Strike
  56. Dawei (Ashaetaw) Women Strike
  57. Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
  58. Defend Myanmar Democracy (DMD)
  59. Democracy Youths Myanmar
  60. Democracy, Peace and Women’s Organization
  61. Democratic Party for a New Society, Norway
  62. Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
  63. Depayin Women Strike
  64. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
  65. Educational Initiatives Prague
  66. Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
  67. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
  68. ETOs Watch Coalition
  69. Federal Corner
  70. Federal Myanmar Benevolence Group (NZ)
  71. Former Political Prisoners and New Generation Group – Monywa
  72. Free Burma Campaign (South Africa) (FBC(SA))
  73. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
  74. Future Light Center (FLC)
  75. Gangaw Women Strike
  76. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
  77. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
  78. General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB)
  79. Generation Wave (GW)
  80. Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities (GSCN)
  81. Group for Democracy in Myanmar (The Netherlands)
  82. HTY Scout Channel
  83. Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM)
  84. Human Rights Promoter
  85. India for Myanmar
  86. Industries Strike
  87. Info Birmanie
  88. Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
  89. Institute for Asian Democracy
  90. International Association, Myanmar-Switzerland (IAMS)
  91. International Campaign for the Rohingya
  92. Italia-Birmania.Insieme
  93. Justice & Equality Focus (JEF)
  94. Justice For All
  95. Justice For Myanmar (JFM)
  96. Justice Movement for Community-Innlay
  97. K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
  98. Kachin Association Norway
  99. Kachin Student Union
  1. Kachin Women’s Association Thailand (KWAT)
  2. Kalay Township Strike Force
  3. Kalay Women Strike
  4. Kamayut Scout Channel
  5. KantBaLu Strike Committee
  6. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
  7. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
  8. Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG)
  9. Karenni Humanitarian Aid Initiative (KHAI)
  10. Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO)
  11. Karenni Society New Zealand
  12. Kayan Rescue Committee (KRC)
  13. Kayaw Women Association
  14. Keng Tung Youth
  15. Kyae Lak Myay
  16. Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
  17. Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
  18. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
  19. Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO)
  20. LGBT Alliance
  21. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kalay Region)
  22. LGBT Alliance Myanmar (Kyaukse Region)
  23. LGBT Community Yangon
  24. LGBT Union – Mandalay
  25. Magway People’s Revolution Committee
  26. Magway Region Human Rights Network
  27. Maharaungmyay Township People’s Strike
  28. Mandalar University Students’ Strike
  29. Mandalay Alliance Coalition Strike
  30. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
  31. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
  32. Mandalay Women Strike
  33. Mandalay Youth Strike
  34. Mandalay-based People’s Strike
  35. Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
  36. MATA Sagaing
  37. Mayangone News
  38. MayMyo Strike Force
  39. Metta Campaign Mandalay
  40. Monywa LGBT Strike
  41. Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
  42. Monywa Women Strike
  43. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
  44. Monywa-Amyint Road Women Strike
  45. Multi-Religions Strike
  46. Mya Taung Strike
  47. Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP)
  48. Myanmar Action Group Denmark
  49. Myanmar anti-military coup movement in New Zealand
  50. Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
  51. Myanmar Community Group Christchurch New Zealand
  52. Myanmar Community Group Dunedin New Zealand
  53. Myanmar Community in Norway
  54. Myanmar Engineers – New Zealand
  55. Myanmar Gonye (New Zealand)
  56. Myanmar Hindu Union
  57. Myanmar Institute of Information Technology Students’ Strike
  58. Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
  59. Myanmar People Alliance (Shan State)
  60. Myanmar Students’ Union in New Zealand
  61. Myaung Youth Network
  62. MyaYar Knowledge Tree
  63. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
  64. Nelson Myanmar Community Group New Zealand
  65. Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
  66. Network of University Student Unions – Monywa
  67. New Myanmar Foundation
  68. New Power Generation
  69. New Zealand Campaign for Myanmar
  70. New Zealand Doctors for NUG
  71. New Zealand Karen Association
  72. New Zealand Zo Community Inc.
  73. NLD Organization Committee (International) Norway
  74. No Business With Genocide
  75. 12 Basic Education Branch High School (Maharaungmyay) Students’ Union
  76. NOK Information & Scout Echo
  77. North Dagon & East Dagon News
  78. Norway Matu Community
  79. Norway Rvwang Community
  80. OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
  81. Overseas Mon Association. New Zealand
  82. Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
  83. Peace and Social Justice Group
  84. Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
  85. Progressive Voice (PV)
  86. Pwintphyu Development Organisation (PDO)
  87. Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
  88. Pyithu Gonye (New Zealand)
  89. Queers of Burma Alternative (QBA)
  90. Representative Committee of University Teacher Associations (RC of UTAs)
  91. Rohingya Action Ireland
  92. Rohingya Community in Norway
  93. Rohingya Progressive Network
  94. Rvwang Community Association New Zealand
  95. Samgha Sammaga-Mandalay
  96. Save Myanmar Fundraising Group (New Zealand)
  97. SEA Junction
  98. Seinpann Strike
  99. Shan Community (New Zealand)
  100. Shan MATA
  101. Shwe Pan Kone People’s Strike Steering Committee
  102. Sisters2Sisters
  103. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
  104. South Dagon Scouting Infos (SDG)
  105. Southern Dragon Myanmar
  106. Southern Initiative
  107. Southern Youth Development Organization (SYDO)
  108. Sujata Sisters Group (NZ)
  109. Support Group for Democracy in Myanmar ( the Netherlands)
  110. Synergy – Social Harmony Organization
  111. Tamar Institute of Development
  112. Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
  113. Taze Strike Committee
  114. Taze Women Strike
  115. Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
  116. Thakhin Kodaw Mhine Peace Network (Monywa)
  117. Thayat Chaung Women Strike
  118. The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (Monywa)
  119. The Mekong Butterfly
  120. Triangle Women Organization
  121. Twitter Team for Revolution (TTFR)
  122. S. Campaign for Burma
  123. Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY)
  124. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
  125. Volunteers in Myanmar
  126. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
  127. Wetlet Township Women Strike
  128. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
  129. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
  130. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
  131. Women Lead Resource Center (WLRC)
  132. Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
  133. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
  134. Yangon Deaf Group
  135. Yangon Women Strike
  136. Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
  137. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
  138. Youth Empowerment
  139. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
  140. Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
  141. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
  142. Zomi Community Norway
  143. ကြာအင်းဆိပ်ကြီးမြို့သပိတ်အင်အားစု
  144. ဂန့်ဂေါဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
  145. မင်းဘူးတောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့
  146. မင်းလှတောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့
  147. ယိမ်းနွဲ့ပါး
  148. သမိုင်းသယ်ဆောင်သူများ
  149. အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
  150. မန်းဆုံစည်းရာ

Download the open letter in English I Myanmar.