Myanmar–United Kingdom relations
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Myanmar–United Kingdom relations entail the bilateral, historical, and diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK governed Myanmar from 1824 to 1942 and 1945 until 1948, when Myanmar achieved full independence. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1947.[1]
Both countries share common membership of the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Development Partnership,[2] and a Double Taxation Agreement.[3]
History
[edit]Before 1948
[edit]Myanmar was ruled by the British Empire from 1824 to 1948 and several wars were fought between the colonial power and Burmese rebels seeking independence. Myanmar eventually achieved independence from British rule on 4 January 1948, which is celebrated annually as Independence Day in Myanmar.
After 1948
[edit]Recent history
[edit]The UK has raised concerns with Myanmar about the Rohingya genocide with then British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt raising the issue with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi during a state-visit in 2018. The UK has supported United Nations fact finding missions to Myanmar to investigate crimes against humanity, and has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution to put a timeline on Myanmar allowing the return of more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh.[4][5]
Military junta (2021—present)
[edit]Relations between Myanmar and the UK have greatly deteriorated since the coup d'état on 1 February 2021, when democratically elected leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were overthrown and detained by the Tatmadaw. The UK government strongly condemned the coup and called for a swift return to civilian rule. The UK placed sanctions on several Myanmar junta officials, including Defence Minister General Mya Tun Oo, in response to the coup.[6]
Myanmar recalled its Ambassador to the United Kingdom Kyaw Zwar Minn on 9 March 2021, after he publicly called for the release of jailed State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He refused to return to Myanmar citing safety concerns.[7] On 7 April 2021, Minn was locked out of the Embassy in London by a military attaché and was forced to sleep in his car overnight. He was replaced by his deputy, Chit Win. The British government acknowledged the dismissal of Minn, however they condemned the "bullying military regime" in response.[8]
On 31 January 2022, the UK government imposed sanctions on Myanmar justice officials, including Thida Oo.[9] The UK announced a further round of sanctions on 25 August 2022 against military-affiliated businesses in Myanmar, coinciding with the five-year anniversary of the Rohingya genocide.[10] That same day, former British ambassador to Myanmar Vicky Bowman and her husband Htein Lin were arrested in Yangon, and were sentenced to a year in prison for "breaching immigration laws" on 2 September 2022.[11][12] Myanmar was excluded from invitations by the UK government for the state funeral of Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022.[13]
On February 1, 2024, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom declared additional sanctions against Myanmar in response to the continuous violation of human rights. These sanctions specifically targeted entities associated with the military that have been involved in repressing the civilian population and committing severe human rights abuses in the Southeast Asian nation.[14][15]
Diplomatic missions
[edit]
See also
[edit]- Burmese people in the United Kingdom
- Foreign relations of Myanmar
- Foreign relations of the United Kingdom
References
[edit]- ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Myanmar and Britain". Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Country and regional development partnership summaries". GOV.UK. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ HM Revenue and Customs (16 December 2013). "Myanmar (Burma): tax treaties". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ^ "UK announces support for Rohingya Muslims". www.aa.com.tr.
- ^ Nichols, Michelle (17 December 2018). "U.N. Security Council mulls Myanmar action; Russia, China boycott talks". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
- ^ "Myanmar coup: UK imposes sanctions on three generals". BBC News. 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Myanmar recalls ambassador in UK after he called for release of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi". Sky News. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "Myanmar's UK envoy says military attache has 'occupied' embassy". BBC News. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "US, UK, Canada sanction top Myanmar justice officials". www.aljazeera.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Britain slaps new sanctions on Mynamar military-linked firms". Reuters. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Ex-UK ambassador and her husband jailed for a year in Myanmar, reports say". the Guardian. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Vicky Bowman: UK former ambassador jailed in Myanmar". BBC News. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Russia, Myanmar not invited to Queen Elizabeth's funeral, Whitehall source says". Reuters. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "UK announces new sanctions targeting Myanmar military entities". www.jurist.org. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar military-linked enterprises and infantry divisions sanctioned 3 years on from the military coup". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar". Diplomat Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
External links
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