92 organisations call on Canada to impose sanctions on Burma’s oil and gas sector
Mizzima
Ninety-two Canadian organisations and international human rights groups, including communities from Burma now living in Canada, have called on the Government of Canada to expand its sanctions framework on Burma to cover the entire oil and gas extraction sector, warning that foreign companies continue to generate revenue for the Burmese military through their involvement in the industry, reports Burma Campaign UK on 1 October.
In a joint letter to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, the organisations welcomed Canada’s longstanding support for democracy and human rights in Burma, including sanctions imposed on the military regime and measures targeting the supply of aviation fuel. However, they argue that existing sanctions do not go far enough and leave significant sectors untouched, such as gas and oil, that continue to benefit the military.
The signatories are urging Canada to introduce new sanctions on the entire Burmese oil and gas extraction sector, preventing service companies, financial intermediaries, insurers, certification bodies, engineering contractors and other Canadian businesses from facilitating oil and gas revenue reaching the Burmese military.
The organisations highlighted the urgent need to impose such sanctions given that a Canadian run company, Canadian Foresight Group which holds an 80 per cent operating interest in Block M-15, a 13,480-square-kilometre offshore concession in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar’s southern Tanintharyi Region, is planning to start developing the project, potentially earning billions of dollars for the Burmese military. Though technically registered in Singapore, the company is managed by Canadian citizens based in Calgary.
The groups highlighted the role of the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is controlled by the Burmese military and manages the country’s oil and gas resources. Revenue generated through the sector continues to provide the military with access to foreign currency and funding despite widespread international condemnation of its human rights violations.
The letter argues that sanctions focused solely on MOGE are insufficient, as EU and US sanctions have shown, leaving a giant loophole enabling European and US companies to continue to work in the oil and gas extraction industry as long as they are not directly contracted by MOGE. International companies continue to support exploration, production, financing, insurance, certification and other services linked to the sector. Without measures addressing the entire supply chain, the organisations warn that sanctions risk being undermined by ongoing commercial activity that helps sustain military revenues.
The signatories are calling on the Canadian Government to:
Expand existing sanctions to cover the entire Burma oil and gas sector, preventing Canadian companies and citizens working in Burma's oil and gas industry.
Ensure such sanctions also apply to insurance, reinsurance, certification, engineering and financial services linked to the sector.
Ensure sanctions have the greatest impact by imposing regular new rounds of sanctions on sources of revenue, arms and equipment on an ongoing basis. This was the approach Canada initially took following the 2021 coup, but no longer. Canada must resume regular rounds of new sanctions to reduce the capacity of the Burmese military to kill and displace the population of Burma.
The call comes amid growing concern about international companies continuing to operate in Burma’s energy sector despite the military’s escalating attacks on civilians. Human rights groups argue that a comprehensive sanctions regime targeting all entities that facilitate oil and gas revenues would significantly reduce the military’s capacity to fund its operations and commit further abuses.
The United Nations has reported a deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar, with Burmese military attacks escalating since new sanctions stopped being imposed almost two years ago. Based on figures from ACLED, the Burmese military carries out an airstrike every 2 and a half hours on average. A child is killed by the Burmese military every 29 hours. More that 14,000 political prisoners live in horrific conditions and more than 135,000 people have been forcibly conscripted in the Burmese military.
Slone Phan, Chairperson of the Karen Community of Canada (KCC), said:
“Investment in oil and gas under a military junta accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity risks becoming a financial lifeline that enables continued violence. International investment must not strengthen a regime that uses its resources to wage war and target innocent civilians, including women and children. Economic interests must never come before human lives and accountability.”
“Our relatives and communities in Kawthoolei and across Burma continue to suffer from airstrikes, artillery shelling, drone attacks, ground assaults, landmines, village burnings, and arbitrary arrests by the Myanmar military. We call on the Government of Canada to take stronger action – including an arms embargo, aviation fuel sanctions, and increased cross-border humanitarian assistance – to protect civilians and support communities affected by the conflict.”
Yasmin Ullah, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, said:
“Canada has recognized the genocide against the Rohingya. That recognition must mean more than words – it must shape how Canada confronts the systems that continue to finance the Myanmar military’s violence against the Rohingya and other ethnic peoples. Oil and gas remains a critical source of revenue for the military. Canada must close the loopholes that allow Canadian companies and service providers to keep feeding that system. You cannot claim to oppose genocide while allowing the machinery that finances it to keep running.”
Minn Tent Bo, Advocacy Officer at Burma Campaign UK, said:
“The oil and gas sector remains one of the Burmese military’s most important sources of revenue. Oil and gas revenues help finance the military’s campaign of repression, including air strikes that target civilians, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Canada has shown leadership on Burma before and should now take the next step by targeting the entire oil and gas supply chain.”
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