July-September

• Boycott PTT

PTTEP, or PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, is a Thai state-owned oil and gas company that operates in Myanmar (also known as Burma). The company has been facing criticism for its business activities in the country, particularly its involvement in natural gas extraction and pipeline projects. Given the current situation in Myanmar, we have called for a boycott of PTTEP products, such as PTT lubricants and PTT-owned Cafe Amazon, in the country. This is because PTTEP is supporting the military regime by continuing to do business in Myanmar despite the human rights abuses and political instability.  Boycotting PTTEP products in Myanmar is one way for individuals to take a stand against the military regime and support the cause of democracy and human rights in the country.

• Sanction MOGE and PTT to stop payments to the Junta.

Two companies that have come under scrutiny in this regard are MOGE (Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise) and PTT (PTT Public Company Limited), both of which have ties to the military regime in Myanmar.  MOGE is a state-owned enterprise that controls the country's oil and gas sector. It brings in a lot of money for the military regime, which has used that money to pay for its harsh actions. PTT, on the other hand, is a Thai state-owned oil and gas company that has significant investments in Myanmar's energy sector. By calling for sanctions against MOGE, we are seeking to stop payments to the military junta and to pressure these companies to cut ties with the regime. This could include financial sanctions, limits on trade and investment, and other steps meant to make it harder for the regime to get money and resources.  For the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar, it is important to get the word out that MOGE and PTT need to be punished.

• Awareness Raising, Networking and Communication

Networking and communication are two of the critical strategies of our campaign. We build relationships and alliances with local and international organizations, individual stakeholders, and social influencers so that we can be a movement that calls for sanctions against MOGE and for payments to stop.  

• May Gyi Mal Program

"May Gyi Mal" program is an engaging way to raise awareness about issues related to military financial pillars. Using content videos to ask questions of the public and then providing the correct answers after a couple of days is an interesting approach. Encouraging social media users to respond to questions creates an interactive experience. The public likes participating. This engagement can help retain the audience's attention and keep them interested in the Blood Money Campaign. This program can also serve as a platform to gather insights and data about public awareness and opinions regarding military financial matters.

• Report 1 - Assessing Mineral Import Data from Myanmar

On July 21, we released a comprehensive report titled "Assessing Mineral Import Data from Myanmar," available in both Myanmar and English versions. This report examines mineral import trends using data from UN Comtrade and China Customs. Following the coup, mineral imports from Myanmar saw a remarkable surge. In 2021, mineral exports exceeded 3.4 billion USD, soaring to 6.2 billion USD in 2022. Notably, China retained its position as Myanmar's primary mining sector trade partner despite the nation's internal turmoil. Furthermore, notable Western nations, including the USA, Switzerland, and Italy, imported rubies and gemstones worth 96 million USD in 2021 and 75 million USD in 2022. These imports, potentially contravening sanctions placed on the Myanmar Gems Enterprise (MGE) since June 2021, underscore complex trade dynamics. The report highlights a significant rise in informal mining activities, particularly in jade, tin, and rare earths. Contrary to expectations, a substantial portion of revenue from these activities does not appear to benefit the military. However, revenue generated from copper and nickel sales is presumed to continue flowing to the military's coffers.

• Report 2 - Who allowed human trafficking in Myanmar?

On July 25th, we unveiled a crucial report titled "Who Allowed Human Trafficking in Myanmar?" available in both Myanmar and Thai versions. This report delves into the matter of human trafficking, a threat to the national security of both Thailand and Myanmar. Despite the Myanmar military's inability to effectively address this issue and their disregard for it, the report highlights a vital message: the interconnectedness of Myanmar's political turmoil and Thailand's security. The report stresses the pressing concern of human trafficking for Thailand and its citizens, originating from Myanmar's borders. It urges Thai citizens to stand in solidarity with the movement against Myanmar's brutal military dictatorship, recognizing that supporting Myanmar's people is an integral step towards securing Thailand's safety and stability.

• Raising awareness among the Thai public

It targets the Thai public to help them understand the implications of PTT and Myanmar's military affiliation. In our campaign message, we emphasize that PTT is inadvertently supporting the Myanmar military's actions, which include violence, suppression of democracy, and human rights violations. Raising awareness about this issue is not just a matter of corporate responsibility but also a call for collective action. We call on the Thai public to voice their concerns, demand accountability, and potentially influence PTT's decisions. By withholding support or pressuring PTT to reconsider its financial ties with the Myanmar military, the Thai people can contribute to positive change and the protection of human rights in the region. Through campaigns, media coverage, and open dialogue, we aim to convince the Thai public to become part of our campaign and agents of change. By coming together and demanding accountability, we can send a strong message that the people's voices matter and that supporting entities involved in human rights violations will not be tolerated.

• Campaign on Singaporean Government: “#DoMoreSingapore”

The advocacy group Justice For Myanmar (JFM) launched the #DoMoreSingapore campaign to increase public awareness of and demand action against Singapore-based organizations that are allegedly aiding and abetting the Myanmar military junta by providing money, weapons, and military equipment used in escalating war crimes against innocent lives in Myanmar. The campaign aims to shed light on the role of Singaporean banks and businesses in facilitating the flow of funds and resources to the junta and to urge the Singaporean government to take stronger measures to curb such activities. 

The Blood Money Campaign joined this campaign in terms of raising awareness, grassroots-level movement, online and onsite protests, and campaign materials. We created campaign materials such as videos, graphic designs, cartoons, and content and disseminated them among not only the local community but also the international community. Meeting with our alliance groups and giving presentations are also included in this campaign. In terms of activities, we initiated massive trending on Twitter (X), social media comments on Singaporean officials, and public campaigns by engaging with social media users and other social media-running activist groups. 

• Petition on 'Do More Singapore"

The petition at the center of the "Do More Singapore" campaign is a vital tool for collecting signatures and support from the public. It serves as a powerful means of demonstrating widespread concern and urgency regarding Singapore's alleged role in supporting the Myanmar military junta. By signing the petition, individuals express their solidarity with the campaign's objectives, which include calling for sanctions on arms transfers, financial restrictions on the junta, and transparent investigations into involved companies. The petition harnesses collective voices to advocate for change and to pressure Singapore to take action in response to the allegations, contributing to the broader effort to address the Myanmar crisis.

• ASEAN people forum

The Blood Money Campaign (BMC) participated in the ASEAN People's Forum held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 1-3. During the forum, BMC advocated for the declaration of the Myanmar military Junta as a terrorist organization and discussed strategies to cut off support for this group. Specifically, BMC urged ASEAN countries, particularly Thailand and Singapore, to cease supporting the Myanmar military, which is seen as a terrorist group.

• Report launching on August 30, 2023

On August 30, 2023, BMC unveiled its highly anticipated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report.

• Internal and External Meetings

There are more than 40 meetings, including both internal and external, for campaign planning, updating information among alliances, networking, and collaboration Between July and September. All meetings were done via Zoom. 

• Transboundary Investment Workshop

On September 2, 2023, BMC actively contributed to the Transboundary Investment workshop as a distinguished guest speaker. The workshop brought together key stakeholders and organizations, including the Extraterritorial Obligation Watch Coalition from Thailand, the Community Legal Education Center from Cambodia, and the Spirit in Education Movement from Thailand. BMC's participation centered on the critical theme of "Borderless Impact, Extraordinary Obligations, and Governance." This collaborative platform allowed for a robust discussion of the complexities surrounding transboundary investments, their impact on diverse communities, and the importance of effective governance in addressing these challenges. By sharing insights and expertise, BMC and its fellow panelists aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the multifaceted issues associated with transboundary investments, promote responsible business practices, and contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes on a global scale. The event served as an essential forum for knowledge exchange and collaboration among organizations committed to driving positive change in the realm of extraterritorial obligations and cross-border governance.