UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Julie Bishoff is set to arrive in the country today, according to a statement from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. While detailed plans for her visit have not been officially released, reliable sources confirm she is expected to meet with military council members. Bishoff is currently facing severe criticism over conflicts of interest in her various roles and business dealings.
As Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), Bishoff has been accused of financial mismanagement and ethical breaches, with university staff recently passing a vote of no confidence in her leadership. Additionally, nearly 300 Myanmar civil society organizations have called for an investigation into her business connections with Chinese state-owned enterprises operating in Myanmar, citing serious conflicts of interest that could compromise her role as UN Special Envoy.
Following a devastating earthquake in Myanmar, the UN’s leadership role has become increasingly crucial. Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has criticized Secretary-General Guterres for ignoring Myanmar civil society organizations’ concerns about Bishoff’s integrity. JFM strongly condemned the UN’s decision to maintain Bishoff in her current position as Special Envoy, describing it as highly unreasonable given that her lack of integrity extends beyond her university role to affect her international responsibilities.
Myanmar civil society organizations have urged the UN and Secretary-General to heed their demands and take immediate action regarding their concerns. A member of one of the civil society organizations who signed the open letter to the UN emphasized that Guterres should take serious note of both the ANU staff’s vote of no confidence and Myanmar people’s concerns about Bishoff’s connections to Chinese state-owned enterprises actively involved in Myanmar, calling for immediate action to address these issues.
