NGO Burma Campaign UK has called on the Qatari government - currently hosting the football world cup - to stop allowing cargo vessels owned by the Myanmar military to dock at ports in Qatar.

The NGO says the cargo vessel U Thar is owned by Myanma Five Star Line, which in turn is owned by the Myanmar military-owned conglomerate Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. It is currently docked at state-owned Hamad port in Qatar.

Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd has been sanctioned by the UK, USA, Canada, and EU because of its role in funding the Burmese military, and thereby helping to fund the human rights violations they commit.

At the United Nations, Qatar has supported resolutions calling for an end to human rights violations by the Burmese military. As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar has supported the Rohingya genocide case at the International Court of Justice.

“By allowing Burmese military-owned vessels to use Qatari ports, Qatar is helping the Burmese military to raise funds to commit the human rights violations which Qatar condemns,” said Mark Farmaner, Director at Burma Campaign UK. “It is not consistent for Qatar to condemn human rights violations by the Burmese military but do business with them at the same time. Qatar must ban the Burmese military from using its ports.