Simon Billenness
@simonbillenness.bsky.social
Democracy, human rights, and corporate accountability advocate with a special focus on Burma/Myanmar. Executive Director of International Campaign for the Rohingya and No Business With Genocide
Kudos to the Burmese community in Buffalo for their tireless efforts to secure the release of the the Venerable U Pyinya Zawta, 65, whom the #Myanmar military junta had sentenced to 15 years in prison on trumped up charges.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/n...
‘Never Forgot Me’: How a Monk’s Supporters Helped Him Survive Prison
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Kudos to the Burmese community in Buffalo for their tireless efforts to secure the release of the the Venerable U Pyinya Zawta, 65, whom the #Myanmar military junta had sentenced to 15 years in prison on trumped up charges.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/n...
The Trump Administration's policy of restricting immigration to the US is having a serious impact on refugees from #Burma (#Myanmar).
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
‘Broken My Hope’: Trump’s Move to Slash Refugee Arrivals Ricochets Widely
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Trump Administration's policy of restricting immigration to the US is having a serious impact on refugees from #Burma (#Myanmar).
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Ashley South makes a powerful case for why the war in #Myanmar is a case of good versus evil - or at least of war criminals versus freedom fighters.
‘Just War’ in Myanmar
open.substack.com/pub/frogmort...
‘Just War’ in Myanmar
open.substack.com/pub/frogmort...
‘Just War’ in Myanmar
International humanitarian law and the rights and wrongs of conflict in Burma
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Ashley South makes a powerful case for why the war in #Myanmar is a case of good versus evil - or at least of war criminals versus freedom fighters.
‘Just War’ in Myanmar
open.substack.com/pub/frogmort...
‘Just War’ in Myanmar
open.substack.com/pub/frogmort...
Yesterday, we had a very productive day on the Hill lobbying for bills and appropriations for #Burma (#Myanmar).
We met up on the street with Senator Ed Markey (D, MA) and had the opportunity to thank him for his long-time support for the Burmese people.
We met up on the street with Senator Ed Markey (D, MA) and had the opportunity to thank him for his long-time support for the Burmese people.
October 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Yesterday, we had a very productive day on the Hill lobbying for bills and appropriations for #Burma (#Myanmar).
We met up on the street with Senator Ed Markey (D, MA) and had the opportunity to thank him for his long-time support for the Burmese people.
We met up on the street with Senator Ed Markey (D, MA) and had the opportunity to thank him for his long-time support for the Burmese people.
Patterns of violence against the Rohingya in #Myanmar suggest that there are systematic economic and expropriation motives for the forced displacement of the #Rohingya, according to Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Professor of Economics at Yale School of Management.
insights.som.yale.edu/insights/eco...
insights.som.yale.edu/insights/eco...
Economic Data Helps Explain a Pattern of Violence against Myanmar’s Rohingya Minority
New research from Yale SOM’s Mushfiq Mobarak shows that the violence and looting in rice-growing areas is tied to rice prices, suggesting an economic motivation for the attacks, and finds that the gov...
insights.som.yale.edu
September 9, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Patterns of violence against the Rohingya in #Myanmar suggest that there are systematic economic and expropriation motives for the forced displacement of the #Rohingya, according to Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, Professor of Economics at Yale School of Management.
insights.som.yale.edu/insights/eco...
insights.som.yale.edu/insights/eco...
Thank you, U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D, VA-07), for stepping up for the people of #Myanmar by co-sponsoring the BRAVE #Burma Act (H.R.3190).
@repvindman.bsky.social
@repvindman.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thank you, U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman (D, VA-07), for stepping up for the people of #Myanmar by co-sponsoring the BRAVE #Burma Act (H.R.3190).
@repvindman.bsky.social
@repvindman.bsky.social
The Washington Post editorial board gets it right on the #Myanmar military's plan for sham elections in #Burma.
"The junta controls less than half the country... Some 3.5 million people [are] internally displaced, and more than 1 million others have fled to neighboring countries."
wapo.st/45CQ4ET
"The junta controls less than half the country... Some 3.5 million people [are] internally displaced, and more than 1 million others have fled to neighboring countries."
wapo.st/45CQ4ET
Opinion | Myanmar’s election is a sham orchestrated by China
Flattery and the desire for a minerals deal already led Trump to relax sanctions on the junta.
wapo.st
August 27, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The Washington Post editorial board gets it right on the #Myanmar military's plan for sham elections in #Burma.
"The junta controls less than half the country... Some 3.5 million people [are] internally displaced, and more than 1 million others have fled to neighboring countries."
wapo.st/45CQ4ET
"The junta controls less than half the country... Some 3.5 million people [are] internally displaced, and more than 1 million others have fled to neighboring countries."
wapo.st/45CQ4ET
Insight Myanmar Podcast kindly interviewed me about the recent passage of the #Burma bills through House committees and more broadly about how we’re lobbying Congress and the Administration in support of democracy and human rights in #Myanmar.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
Episode #378: Of Bills and Sanctions — Insight Myanmar
Money for Nothing, Sanctions for Free: Schoolhouse Rock Meets Foggy Bottom
insightmyanmar.org
August 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Insight Myanmar Podcast kindly interviewed me about the recent passage of the #Burma bills through House committees and more broadly about how we’re lobbying Congress and the Administration in support of democracy and human rights in #Myanmar.
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
insightmyanmar.org/complete-sho...
Todd Stein makes a compelling case about how the Trump Administration and the Chinese government use similar tactics and lies to crush local opposition to their rule.
open.substack.com/pub/unexempt...
open.substack.com/pub/unexempt...
DC and Hong Kong: 2 cities where the Ruling Party seeks to quash autonomy
Conditions differ, but GOP & CCP share the authoritarian impulse to deny locals’ self-governance
open.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Todd Stein makes a compelling case about how the Trump Administration and the Chinese government use similar tactics and lies to crush local opposition to their rule.
open.substack.com/pub/unexempt...
open.substack.com/pub/unexempt...
Republican lobby firm DCI Group just took $3 million of dirty money to lobby the Trump Administration on behalf of the genocidal Myanmar military junta.
August 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Republican lobby firm DCI Group just took $3 million of dirty money to lobby the Trump Administration on behalf of the genocidal Myanmar military junta.
This week's must read is this penetrating analysis by Progressive Voice of the US Administration's recent lifting of targeted sanctions on some Myanmar military junta-linked individuals and companies.
progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/08/05/6...
progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/08/05/6...
Lifting Sanctions, Dismissing Accountability - Progressive Voice
In a dangerous rollback of US policy towards Myanmar, the United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has undone years of Myanmar people’s tireless efforts by lifting targeted san...
progressivevoicemyanmar.org
August 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This week's must read is this penetrating analysis by Progressive Voice of the US Administration's recent lifting of targeted sanctions on some Myanmar military junta-linked individuals and companies.
progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/08/05/6...
progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2025/08/05/6...
The Trump Administration plans to terminate State Department pro-democracy programs including a rapid response team meant to support pro-democracy activists abroad who may require urgent relocation or other protection if their lives are deemed to be in danger.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US state department told to end nearly all its overseas pro-democracy programs
Exclusive: All but two of the programs awarded under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor would be cut, affecting nearly $1.3bn in grants
www.theguardian.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The Trump Administration plans to terminate State Department pro-democracy programs including a rapid response team meant to support pro-democracy activists abroad who may require urgent relocation or other protection if their lives are deemed to be in danger.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If you live in the US, tell your U.S. representative to co-sponsor the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.3190) and help cut off the #Myanmar military's access to hard currency and jet fuel for air strikes.
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Congress: Pass the BRAVE Burma Act
Take action against the Myanmar military.
actionnetwork.org
June 26, 2025 at 2:42 PM
If you live in the US, tell your U.S. representative to co-sponsor the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.3190) and help cut off the #Myanmar military's access to hard currency and jet fuel for air strikes.
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
US and other foreign donor cuts in aid have led to the closing of community-based schools serving hundreds of thousands of children in #Rohingya refugee camps in #Bangladesh according to Human Rights Watch.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
Bangladesh: Foreign Aid Cuts Affect Rohingya Children’s Education
United States and other foreign donor cutbacks in humanitarian aid have worsened the already existing education crisis for 437,000 school-age children in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh.
www.hrw.org
June 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
US and other foreign donor cuts in aid have led to the closing of community-based schools serving hundreds of thousands of children in #Rohingya refugee camps in #Bangladesh according to Human Rights Watch.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
Her denial of the #Rohingya genocide, and tolerance for China’s economic projects that hurt so many rural ethnic communities turned our world upside down. This was a different Daw Suu from the one we knew, writes Debbie Stothard.
Read more english.dvb.no/happy-80th-b...
#AungSanSuuKyi #Myanmar
Read more english.dvb.no/happy-80th-b...
#AungSanSuuKyi #Myanmar
Happy 80th birthday Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from Debbie Stothard - DVB
Guest contributor Debbie Stothard “Don’t forget, my Suu is very human,” Michael Aris told me as he drove me around Oxford to point out various buildings connected to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. It was 1998,...
english.dvb.no
June 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Her denial of the #Rohingya genocide, and tolerance for China’s economic projects that hurt so many rural ethnic communities turned our world upside down. This was a different Daw Suu from the one we knew, writes Debbie Stothard.
Read more english.dvb.no/happy-80th-b...
#AungSanSuuKyi #Myanmar
Read more english.dvb.no/happy-80th-b...
#AungSanSuuKyi #Myanmar
Two refugee families, one #Rohingya from #Myanmar and one white Afrikaner from South Africa. Two very different experiences under Trump. wapo.st/3Z6I77e
Two refugee families. Two very different experiences under Trump.
A South African family was given a fast track to entering the U.S. as refugees. A family from Myanmar is struggling amid cuts to resettlement agencies under Trump.
wapo.st
June 1, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Two refugee families, one #Rohingya from #Myanmar and one white Afrikaner from South Africa. Two very different experiences under Trump. wapo.st/3Z6I77e
If you live in the US, tell your Members of Congress to stand up for the Burmese people and co-sponsor the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.3190).
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Congress: Pass the BRAVE Burma Act
Take action against the Myanmar military.
actionnetwork.org
May 27, 2025 at 1:23 PM
If you live in the US, tell your Members of Congress to stand up for the Burmese people and co-sponsor the BRAVE Burma Act (H.R.3190).
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Thirteen Myanmar nationals deported from the United States since last month are being held in a notorious interrogation centre in Yangon, Myanmar Now has learned.
myanmar-now.org/en/?p=33945
myanmar-now.org/en/?p=33945
Myanmar nationals deported by US being held in notorious junta detention centre
The detainees are among 20 people handed over to the regime by the Trump administration since last month
myanmar-now.org
May 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Thirteen Myanmar nationals deported from the United States since last month are being held in a notorious interrogation centre in Yangon, Myanmar Now has learned.
myanmar-now.org/en/?p=33945
myanmar-now.org/en/?p=33945
Thousands of people who fled Myanmar’s civil war to refugee camps in Thailand are struggling to find healthcare after Donald Trump ordered a freeze on US foreign aid spending.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Myanmar refugees in Thailand face health crisis after USAid withdrawal – in pictures
Thousands of people who fled Myanmar’s civil war to refugee camps in Thailand are struggling to find healthcare after Donald Trump ordered a freeze on US foreign aid spending. In the Thai border regio...
www.theguardian.com
May 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Thousands of people who fled Myanmar’s civil war to refugee camps in Thailand are struggling to find healthcare after Donald Trump ordered a freeze on US foreign aid spending.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Hat tip to Reps. Bill Huizenga, Betty McCollum, Ann Wagner, and Seth Moulton for re-introducing the BRAVE Burma Act, now (H.R.3190).
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov
May 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Hat tip to Reps. Bill Huizenga, Betty McCollum, Ann Wagner, and Seth Moulton for re-introducing the BRAVE Burma Act, now (H.R.3190).
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...
Reposted by Simon Billenness
April marks two years since the start of the brutal war in Sudan – a war the UAE is fueling by arming the RSF.
Trevor Noah, we know you have a show coming up in the UAE this month.
Use your platform to #SpeakOutOnSudan.
Trevor Noah, we know you have a show coming up in the UAE this month.
Use your platform to #SpeakOutOnSudan.
April 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
April marks two years since the start of the brutal war in Sudan – a war the UAE is fueling by arming the RSF.
Trevor Noah, we know you have a show coming up in the UAE this month.
Use your platform to #SpeakOutOnSudan.
Trevor Noah, we know you have a show coming up in the UAE this month.
Use your platform to #SpeakOutOnSudan.
i am angry at the prospect of the Trump Administration eliminating the State Department's bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
Trump Draft Order Would Drastically Overhaul U.S. State Department (Gift Article)
The draft executive order to be signed by President Trump would eliminate Africa operations and shut down bureaus working on democracy, human rights and refugee issues.
www.nytimes.com
April 20, 2025 at 3:35 PM
i am angry at the prospect of the Trump Administration eliminating the State Department's bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL).
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/u...
Reposted by Simon Billenness
.@humanrightsfirst.org & @transparencyusa.bsky.social condemn the Trump admin for lifting Global Magnitsky sanctions on sr Hungarian official Antal Rogán. This delisting raises grave concerns that the US is undermining an important corruption accountability tool. humanrightsfirst.org/library/huma...
Human Rights First and Transparency International U.S. Condemn U.S. Corruption Sanctions Relief for Hungarian Official - Human Rights First
Press contacts: Human Rights First: press@humanrightsfirst.org Transparency International U.S.: sgreytak@us.transparency.org Washington, D.C. — Today, Human Rights First and Transparency International...
humanrightsfirst.org
April 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
.@humanrightsfirst.org & @transparencyusa.bsky.social condemn the Trump admin for lifting Global Magnitsky sanctions on sr Hungarian official Antal Rogán. This delisting raises grave concerns that the US is undermining an important corruption accountability tool. humanrightsfirst.org/library/huma...
Hat tip to the Burmese community of Buffalo (NY) who, through their continual grassroots lobbying about their homeland of #Burma, have persuaded Rep. Timothy Kennedy to join the Congressional Burma Caucus and to sponsor H.Res.106 calling for an arms embargo on the #Myanmar military junta.
April 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Anina is, in many ways, a typical teenager. She loves her boyfriend, cartoons and football – she supports Manchester City. ... A soldier of the Chin militia, ... the teenager has been trained as a sniper... She has killed more men than she cares to tally.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
‘I stopped counting after three’: the ‘girl sniper’ fighting on the frontline of Myanmar’s civil war
The country’s drawn out conflict has seen children recruited as soldiers on all sides. At the age of 18, Anina is a seasoned fighter with a feared reputation in her all-male resistance unit
www.theguardian.com
April 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Anina is, in many ways, a typical teenager. She loves her boyfriend, cartoons and football – she supports Manchester City. ... A soldier of the Chin militia, ... the teenager has been trained as a sniper... She has killed more men than she cares to tally.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...