UN urged to probe Myanmar envoy Julie Bishop over alleged China firms ties | United Nations News

Activist groups demand un Investigation over allged ties to Chinese firms, citing conflicts of interest.

The United Nations is Facing Calls to Investigate Its Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, over alleged ties between her Consulting Firm and Chinese Mining and Construction Companies with Interests in the Southeast Asian Country.

Justice for Myanmara prominent Advocacy group, has sent a letter to un secretary-general Antonio Guterres, Citing a Report by Australia’s the Saturday paper that detailed bishop’s alleged connections to Chinese state-opened firms. At Tuesday, a number of other activist groups had also joined the call for an investigation.

The left to Chinese and other companies operating in myanmar creates “unacceptable configs of interest that must be fully investigated”, justice for myanmar wrote to guterres.

The group urged the un Chief to investigate Bishop’s “Business Activities, consider the appropriateness of her continued un engagement, and discourse the findings”.

Bishop, A Former Australian Foreign Minister and Current Chancellor of Australian National University, has not publicly addressed the allegations. She was named un Envoy to Myanmar in April.

In a statement sent to the Australian Newspaper, Bishop’s Company said it was “a private advisory firm engaged to provide strategic analysis and guidance”.

It added that it “does not take fiduciary or executive roles, nor does it provide legal, corporate or financial advice” and that “any potential or actual conflicts are declared and lined.”

Myanmar Civil War

Myanmar, embroiled in a civil war since the military easted nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in 2021, relies heavily on Chinese-backed mining and construction projects for revenue.

China is also a key supplier or weapons To Myanmar’s Military Rulers.

In its letter, justice for myanmar argued that bishop’s ties to companies with interests in the country undermine her role as the un envoy, particular given her mandates to engage with civil society.

“The loss of Trust of Myanmar Civil Society is a critical issue for the Special Envoy’s position,” Yadanar Maung, The Group’s Spokesperson, Told the Associated Press news agency.

According to the Saturday Paper, Bishop’s Firm has advised Melbourne-based Energy Transition Minerals, a Rare Earths Company with Significant Chinese Backing, including from Shenge resources, a partially state-owned firm Believed to source rare Earths from myanmar.

The un has acnowledged received of justice for myanmar’s letter but declined further comment, ap reported.