Justice for Myanmar has requested the UN to investigate Special Envoy Julie Bishop’s affiliations with Chinese companies, particularly her links to Energy Transition Minerals, which has ties to Chinese state-owned entities and is involved in a controversial mining project. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest affecting her role in addressing Myanmar’s crisis and ensuring trust and integrity in her work.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) has called for an investigation by the United Nations into potential conflicts of interest concerning its Special Envoy to Myanmar, Julie Bishop. Bishop, who previously served as Australia’s foreign affairs minister from 2013 to 2018, was appointed as the UN Special Envoy in April 2024. She also runs a global business consultancy named Julie Bishop and Partners.
Bishop’s connections with Energy Transition Minerals (ETM) were initially reported by The Saturday Paper, an Australian news outlet. ETM has significant ties to Chinese state-owned entities, notably Shenghe Resources, which holds a 9 percent stake in ETM, and to a lesser extent, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). ETM is entangled in a controversial uranium mining project in Kvanefjeld, Greenland, which faced local opposition and was halted due to health and environmental concerns.
ETM and Shenghe Resources signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the importation of uranium from the Kvanefjeld site into China. Following a government ban on uranium mining in 2021, ETM is now embroiled in litigation with the Greenlandic government. Bishop was announced as a strategic advisor for ETM in January, tasked with assisting the advancement of the Kvanefjeld Project amid ongoing legal proceedings.
Activists, particularly from JFM, express concerns regarding Bishop’s role at ETM and its implications for her duties as the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar. Myanmar is a principal supplier of rare minerals to China, and Shenghe Resources is a major processing company of these minerals. The revenues from this industry significantly support Myanmar’s military regime, which opposes pro-democracy movements. Bishop’s involvement with ETM could undermine her commitment to fostering “trust and integrity” while seeking a resolution to the crisis in Myanmar.
The call for investigation into Julie Bishop’s affiliations reflects significant concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest while serving as UN Special Envoy to Myanmar. The connections to Chinese state-owned enterprises and the implications for her role highlight the intricate relationship between international business interests and geopolitical issues. The concerns raised by activist groups, particularly regarding how these ties may affect her commitment to promoting democracy in Myanmar, underscore the critical need for transparency and integrity in diplomatic roles.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
