Justice for Myanmar has called for a UN investigation into possible conflicts of interest involving Special Envoy Julie Bishop due to her ties with Energy Transition Minerals, which has links to Chinese state-owned companies. Bishop’s advisory role at ETM could undermine her impartiality in addressing the Myanmar crisis, where mineral revenues support the military regime.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM), an activist organization, has urged the United Nations to investigate the potential conflicts of interest involving its Special Envoy to Myanmar, Julie Bishop. Bishop, who previously served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2018, was appointed as Special Envoy in April 2024. She also heads a global business consultancy firm, Julie Bishop and Partners.
Concerns regarding Bishop’s involvement with Energy Transition Minerals (ETM) were first highlighted by The Saturday Paper, an Australian news outlet. ETM has partial ties to the Chinese company Shenghe Resources, which is state-owned, and also connects, albeit to a lesser extent, with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). ETM’s controversial mining project in Kvanefjeld, Greenland, has generated environmental and health concerns among local populations.
In January, ETM announced that Julie Bishop would serve as a strategic advisor, focusing on advancing the Kvanefjeld Project amidst ongoing legal issues with the government. Activists worry that Bishop’s association with ETM may compromise her impartiality as UN Special Envoy, particularly given that Myanmar is a leading supplier of rare minerals to China, with significant revenue streams supporting the military regime, opposed to pro-democracy efforts.
Bishop’s role as Special Envoy demands trust and integrity, as she aims to contribute towards resolving the crisis in Myanmar. JFM’s call for investigation emphasizes the critical need for clarity regarding Bishop’s affiliations and their implications for her diplomatic responsibilities.
In summary, the situation surrounding Julie Bishop, the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, raises significant concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest linked to her involvement with Energy Transition Minerals. The insistence by Justice for Myanmar for an investigation underscores the gravity of ensuring that diplomatic roles maintain trust and integrity, especially in sensitive geopolitical contexts such as Myanmar, where resource wealth is intertwined with military governance.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
