1,000 signatures reached
To: Australian Government
Australia must escalate sanctions on Myanmar’s junta before their sham election
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On 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government. Since then, the junta has unleashed brutal repression: killing protesters, dismantling trade unions, attacking communities, and creating a crisis affecting nearly 22 million in need of humanitarian assistance.
Now, the junta plans to stage sham elections on 28 December 2025. This is not democracy; it is an attempt to rebrand a violent dictatorship and entrench its power. In July 2025, the generals dissolved the “State Administration Council” and rebranded themselves as the “State Security and Peace Commission” to dodge sanctions. Nothing has changed: the same leaders remain, and violence has escalated.
The global union movement has been campaigning for the international community to defend democracy and workers’ rights in Myanmar and has had a win. In June this year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) passed a historic resolution under Article 33 – the strongest measure available – calling on governments to cut all support to the junta and stop enabling their repression.
Australia backed this resolution. Now it must act decisively to implement it.
We, the undersigned unionists and supporters, call on the Australian Government to:
1) Review all relations with Myanmar: Conduct a thorough due diligence exercise to ensure that all government, commercial and financial ties to Myanmar, including development program and humanitarian delivery, are reviewed to ensure no engagement enables, facilitates or prolongs violations. This must include ensuring business and investor adherence to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct.
2) Enact additional sanctions: Sanctions are a key mechanism to stop the flow of funds, arms, equipment and jet fuel to the military junta, to disable all means used by the junta to attack civilians and trade unionists and violate fundamental rights. Australia must lead efforts to coordinate with international partners to harmonise sanctions, close loopholes, and ensure the military cannot circumvent sanctions through rebranding itself. Australia must continue to take decisive action to stop the Myanmar military by sanctioning high-value targets such as:
- State-owned enterprises in natural resources such as oil and gas, mining, gems and timber, including:
- Myanma Economic Bank (MEB)
- Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)
- Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE)
- Myanma Gems Enterprise (MGE)
- The banking sector, including:
- Myanma Economic Bank (MEB)
- Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM)
- The aviation fuel supply chain, including: Hai Linh Co. Ltd. (Vietnam), Shoon Energy Pte Ltd., P.E.I. Energy Pte Ltd., and PEIA Pte Ltd. (Singapore), and CNOOC Trading (Singapore) Pte Ltd. for their roles in fuel storage and trade
- Key figures like Khin Phyu Win, director of Shoon Energy, and other unsanctioned Asia Sun Group associate
- The junta-controlled Myanma Petrochemical Enterprise (MPE)
3) Support a comprehensive ban on jet fuel exports to Myanmar:
- Back the UN Human Rights Council’s call for a global prohibition; work with ASEAN partners to operationalise enforcement.
- Communicate clear due diligence expectations to Australian companies and financiers (do not enable supply, storage, transport, insurance, or payment for jet fuel linked to the junta), including penalties for non-compliance.
4) Recognise the National Unity Government (NUG):
- Recognise the NUG as Myanmar’s legitimate government.
- Engage the NUG and independent worker organisations on humanitarian access, labour rights, and economic governance.
- Denounce the sham elections planned for December 2025.
5) Enact humanitarian protections consistent with the ILO resolution:
- Expand humanitarian visa pathways, particularly for at-risk trade unionists and human rights defenders.
- Direct funding via independent, community-based networks that do not require junta authorisation to ensure no funds, goods, or services flow to the military.
- Fund an emergency humanitarian package to fill immediate life-saving gaps created by USAID withdrawals, as called for by the Australian Council for International Development, including funding to respond within Myanmar and on the Thai-Myanmar border and to bridge funding in Cox’s Bazaar refugee camp.
By escalating sanctions and recognising Myanmar’s democratic forces, Australia can help cut the junta’s financial lifelines and stand with the people of Myanmar in their struggle for democracy.
We urge the Australian Government to act now.
Why is this important?
Following the 2021 coup, the military junta plans to stage sham elections on December 28, 2025. This is not democracy; it is an attempt to rebrand a violent dictatorship and entrench its power. By escalating sanctions and recognising Myanmar’s democratic forces, Australia can help cut the junta’s financial lifelines and stand with the people of Myanmar in their struggle for democracy.