UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Julie Bishop arrived in Myanmar on April 9 and met with the military council’s Foreign Minister U Than Swe in Naypyidaw. During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between Myanmar and the UN regarding relief efforts for earthquake victims. The Special Envoy expressed sympathy for the losses and damage caused by the earthquake, according to the military council’s statement.
However, nearly 300 Myanmar civil society organizations have expressed concerns about Bishop’s appointment. The main reason is her alleged conflict of interest due to her advisory role with Energy Transition Minerals, an Australian company linked to Chinese state-owned enterprises. Additionally, there are human rights concerns as she is advising on a rare earth mining project in Greenland that could harm the environment and is opposed by indigenous communities. Bishop has faced criticism over her human rights stance regarding refugees fleeing conflicts to Australia, and her appointment as UN Special Envoy was criticized by human rights activists.
Bishop, who also serves as Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU), faces allegations of financial mismanagement and ethical breaches at the university. ANU staff have voted no confidence in her leadership. While civil society organizations have called for the UN to investigate Bishop’s conflicts of interest, Secretary-General Guterres has not yet taken action. Justice For Myanmar has strongly criticized the UN’s decision to maintain Bishop in her current role, particularly at a time when UN leadership is crucial for helping earthquake-affected Myanmar people. This comes as the military council continues airstrikes on civilians, including a recent attack in Sagaing Region’s Wuntho Township that killed over 20 civilians, while also maintaining severe restrictions on international humanitarian aid, including from the UN.
