In a 31 March submission to the Australian Parliament, Justice For Myanmar (JFM) urged sweeping new sanctions on Myanmar’s military leadership and economic networks, warning that current measures have failed to cut off funding for ongoing abuses.
The submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Inquiry into the State of Democracy and Human Rights in Myanmar said the junta continues to access funds, arms, and aviation fuel through international networks, allowing it to sustain operations despite years of conflict following the 2021 coup.
The group called on Canberra to expand targeted sanctions to include the military’s governing bodies and key state-owned enterprises, arguing Australia lags behind sanctions imposed by allies such as the United States, Britain, and the European Union.
Australia has so far sanctioned a few junta-linked individuals and entities, and the submission describes the response as “slow and insufficient” compared to that of partners.
JFM highlighted gaps in Australia’s sanctions, including the lack of restrictions on major state-owned enterprises in the extractive sector, which it says are the junta’s largest source of foreign revenue.
These include Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), Myanma Gems Enterprise, and other resource-linked entities sanctioned by some Western governments but not Australia, according to JFM.
The submission also criticised Australia for failing to sanction the junta’s central governing bodies, including its rebranded executive structure formed ahead of elections held in late 2025 and early 2026.
JFM described those polls as a “sham election” that lacked credibility due to widespread violence, restrictions on political opposition, and low voter participation under coercive conditions.
The group called for Australia to explicitly reject the election results and any institutions formed through the process. JFM urged Australia to coordinate closely with allies to expand and tighten targeted sanctions, focusing on the military’s governing bodies and state-owned enterprises, to increase financial pressure on the military regime.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup, with thousands killed and tens of thousands detained, according to rights groups and United Nations figures cited in the submission.
JFM said cutting off the junta’s access to revenue and international support would be critical to advancing efforts toward a return to democratic governance.
