Activists launch campaign to cut off supply of aviation fuel to regime

By Admin 22 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 October 2024, Sittwe 

The activist group Blood Money has launched an online petition campaign against the supply of aviation fuel to Myanmar's military regime, which has been waging a campaign of indiscriminate aerial attacks against civilians.

The petition campaign started on October 18. A member of Blood Money told DMG: "We are collecting signatures online. People can join the campaign securely as their data will not be stored. We will send the petition, along with signatures, to the national governments of countries where companies that provide delivery and shipment insurance for aviation fuel are based."

The US Department of Treasury announced in August of last year that it would impose sanctions against any company or organisation supplying jet fuel to individuals or entities in Myanmar.

The junta's air attacks increased fivefold in the first half of 2024, according to a United Nations report.

The member of Blood Money said: "The signatures reflect the demand and need of the people, so they will weigh strongly with the international community. They are proof that people are desperate for a ban on jet fuel supply."a

Governments and companies that respect human rights must listen to the voices of the Myanmar people, and meet their demands, said Blood Money.

One political analyst from Arakan State said: "Civilian populations will continue to be targeted by the regime as long as aviation fuel and weapons are sold to the regime. [The international community] should cut off the aviation fuel supply to the regime in consideration of the Myanmar people."

At a meeting between officials of the National Unity Government's Human Rights Ministry and NUG representatives to Australia on October 10 in Australia, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said he would do what he can to stop Vietnam from supplying aviation fuel to the regime.

According to Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica, 813 civilians were killed and 1,575 others were injured in junta air attacks in the eight months from January to August of this year. At least 111 religious buildings, 66 schools and 27 healthcare facilities were destroyed or damaged.

Arakan State was targeted most, with 176 airstrikes in the four months from May to August, according to the research group.