Simon Billenness 
Myanmar produces more than 90% of the world’s rubies and jade, and these stones command the highest prices on the international market. Because it dominates Burma’s gemstone industry, the Myanmar military profits when high-end jewelry retailers – like Harry Winston (owned by Swatch) – buy Burmese gems for their collections. Today, let’s take three actions to … Read more
Not content with letting Covid ravage Myanmar, Myanmar army chief Min Aung Hlaing marked the six-month point of his military coup by declaring himself prime minister of a supposed “caretaker government.” The civilian National Unity Government quickly labeled the rebranded regime an “unlawful association.” The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has estimated that the military junta has … Read more
Just hours after the military coup in Myanmar, we stepped up and organized petitions to President Biden. Next week, we are helping to organize lobby days in Washington, DC, for the introduction of the new Burma Bills. We never let up in supporting Myanmar’s Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) in its struggle against the military junta. … Read more
The third – and thus far most serious – wave of Covid is hitting Myanmar hard. Hospitals have reached maximum capacity. At military hospitals, staff are turning away civilians under orders to limit treatment to military personnel and their relatives. As Progressive Voice reports: “Ultimately, the root cause of all these human rights and humanitarian catastrophes is … Read more
In a major new report “Jade and Conflict,” Global Witness highlights how the Myanmar military continues to hold tight control of the jade trade and its profits. Since the February military coup, the army has intensified its conflict in jade-mining areas. Myanmar produces more than 90% of the world’s rubies and jade, and these stones command … Read more
This week, Chevron and Total held their annual shareholder meetings in the midst of a barrage of pressure over their payments to the Myanmar military. Many of you joined protests outside Chevron’s offices across the United States. Khin Ohmar of Progressive Voice even moved a shareholder resolution at Chevron’s meeting focusing on Chevron’s support for the … Read more
Starting this Friday, we are holding protests across the US to demand that Chevron stop bankrolling the Myanmar military. According to Myanmar Now, the Yadana pipeline project, owned by Chevron and Total, is still providing the junta with millions in revenue. Today, in a solidarity message, 378 Myanmar civil society organizations thanked “our brothers and sisters in the … Read more
Ask Beyonce to speak out in support of our sisters and brothers in Myanmar’s garment industry. On February 1st, 2021, the Myanmar military executed a coup, illegally and violently overthrowing the elected civilian government and shattering the dreams of many across the country. In response, citizens from all ethnicities and walks of life have joined … Read more
Boycott Chevron until it stops supporting the Myanmar military. As Myanmar’s generals look for revenues to prop up their new dictatorship following the February 1 coup, there’s one source of money they can count on: natural gas projects backed by foreign investors including France’s Total and Chevron of the US, South Korea’s Posco and Malaysia’s … Read more
On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military seized power in a coup d’etat, imprisoning Aung San Suu Kyi, other civilian government officials, and prominent pro-democracy and human rights advocates. In response to this coup, the people of Myanmar have taken to the streets in a new Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) demanding an end to military … Read more