Mizzima-Jan 15
On 10 January, Blood Money Campaign released a new report entitled “Close the Skies” critical of continued international support for the Myanmar junta. The report takes a look at how this support allows the junta to continue devastating airstrikes against Myanmar civilian population. Excerpts:
The ongoing international support for the criminal junta’s airstrikes has devastated the lives, homes, and livelihoods of civilians—including women, children, and the elderly—resulting in catastrophic challenges in meeting their most basic survival needs. The Blood Money Campaign calls on ASEAN member states, United Nations member states and corporations around the world to immediately cease the export, sale, or transfer of weapons, ammunitions, aviation fuel, aircrafts, equipment, and technologies to the Myanmar military junta. According to the research report by the Blood Money Campaign, it has found that international support for the Myanmar military junta’s perpetual aerial attacks has resulted not only in the loss of civilian lives but also in dire consequences on daily livelihoods. The report “Close the Sky: The Dire Consequences of Inaction on Aviation Fuel in Myanmar” involved firsthand accounts from civilians who narrowly escaped death while fleeing aerial attacks. The report highlights the devastating impacts of continuous airstrikes, relentless aircraft flights, and forced displacement, including loss of access to education and healthcare services, food shortages, psychological trauma, and the severe destruction of livelihoods, particularly those reliant on agriculture and the ongoing challenges currently being faced. Since seizing power nearly four years ago, the junta has been exploiting and manipulating the country’s economy and finances to serve its interests. It has also been using aviation fuel intended for civilian (passenger) airlines for military purposes, targeting civilians in its attacks. According to findings, the junta’s airstrikes frequently target crowded public spaces such as markets, donation areas, festivals, religious events, hospitals, clinics, and schools. Read more at:
