UN Called to Investigate Possible Conflict of Interest of Special Envoy Julie Bishop
Justice for Myanmar has urged the UN to investigate possible conflicts of interest involving Special Envoy Julie Bishop due to her connections with Chinese firms. Bishop’s role as strategic advisor for Energy Transition Minerals, linked to state-owned Chinese entities, raises concerns about her impartiality and effectiveness in addressing Myanmar’s ongoing crisis. Activists highlight the potential implications of her associations for the UN’s mission in the region.
Justice for Myanmar (JFM) has prompted the United Nations to conduct an investigation into potential conflicts of interest related to its Special Envoy to Myanmar, Julie Bishop. Bishop, who served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2018, was appointed as the UN Special Envoy in April 2024. In addition to her UN role, she leads her own global business consultancy firm, Julie Bishop and Partners.
Reports from The Saturday Paper have revealed that Bishop is involved with Energy Transition Minerals (ETM), an entity partially controlled by Shenghe Resources, a Chinese state-owned company, as well as by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). ETM is implicated in a disputed uranium and rare earth mining investment in Kvanefjeld, Greenland, which faced significant opposition due to environmental health concerns and was halted by a governmental ban on uranium mining in 2021. Bishop took on the role of strategic advisor to ETM in January 2024, aimed at progressing this controversial project amidst ongoing legal challenges.
Activists, including JFM, express apprehension that Bishop’s ties to ETM may create a conflict of interest concerning her duties as the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar. Myanmar serves as a crucial supplier of rare earth minerals to China, with Shenghe Resources being one of the leading processors in this market. The funding from this industry significantly bolsters Myanmar’s military regime, countering pro-democracy movements. Critics argue that Bishop’s connections may compromise her efforts to fulfill the mandate of resolving the crisis in Myanmar, which requires a foundation of trust and integrity.
The call by JFM for an investigation into Julie Bishop’s connections raises significant concerns about potential conflicts of interest affecting her role as UN Special Envoy to Myanmar. Her involvement with ETM and Chinese state-owned entities could undermine her commitment to addressing the crisis in Myanmar, particularly given the military regime’s financing through the trade of rare minerals. This situation necessitates careful scrutiny to ensure that the mandate of the Special Envoy is maintained with integrity and trust.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
