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Amnesty International has published research on how international business is linked to Myanmar’s military funding. The report claims that some of these units are directly responsible for violations of international law and human rights.
The report was posted on the company’s website on Thursday.
The investigation report was prepared by Amnesty International after analyzing the officially leaked documents. An analysis has emerged of how Myanmar’s military companies have generated huge income from shares of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL). MEHL has partnerships with various local and foreign companies. These include Japanese multinational beer Kirin and South Korean steel giant Posco.
MEHL shareholder records show that the country’s military units own about one-third of MEHL’s shares. The log also shows that Western Command has contacts with MEHL. The Western Command organization has been conducting operations in Rakhine State to crack down on the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities. The report also mentions the amount of annual dividends that shareholders have received since the establishment of MEHL in 1990.
Mark Dummett, Amnesty International’s director of business, security and human rights, said: “These documents are further proof of how the Myanmar military has benefited from MEHL’s huge business empire. At the same time, it is clear here that the department The military is connected to MEHL. This is not an incident where MEHL unknowingly funded human rights violations … Its entire board is made up of high-ranking military officers. “
“Some of those involved in the most egregious human rights violations in Myanmar’s recent history have benefited from MEHL’s business activities. For example, Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing owned 5,000 MEHL shares in 2011. In the face of such evidence, the business relationship should end the liability of partners currently involved with MEHL, ‘he added.
Global business communication
An Amnesty International study concluded that there was a direct link between MEHL’s business partners and human rights abuses. MEHL works in partnership with these business partners to establish joint ventures or profit sharing agreements in Myanmar. When profits are made from these, they provide MEHL as a shareholder. MEHL then distributed dividends to its own shareholders.
Amnesty wrote letters to eight companies working with MEHL in Myanmar. These are- Ever Flow River Group Public Company Limited (EFR), a logistics company in Myanmar, Kanabaza Group (KBZ), which participates in Myanmar’s Z and Ruby Mining, Japanese beverage company Kirin Holdings, South Korean property developer INNO Group, and garments from South Korea. Pacific, South Korean steelmaker Posco, tobacco company RMH Singapore and Chinese metal mining company Wanbao Mining.
In response to Amnesty’s letter, Pan-Pacific stated that its business partnership with MEHL came to an end following Amnesty’s investigation and the release of the UN Investigative Mission Report in 2019. KBZ and Kirin said they are reviewing your relationship with MEHL. Others made no such promises or answers.
All the partners of these MEHL affiliated companies operate in Myanmar. However, there are some that are spread all over the world. Kirin is one of the largest beer producers in the world. The Kirin, San Miguel, Lion and Fat Tire company’s drinks are sold in bars and shops around the world. And POSCO is one of the largest steel producers in the world. They produce multiple steel products for the automotive, construction and shipbuilding industries.
Shed Light on Confidential Relationships
Amnesty International has seen two documents that reveal new details about how MEHL paid the military. One of them is the document sent by MEHL to the Myanmar Directorate of Investment and Administration (DICA) in January 2020. It states that MEHL 361737 is owned by an independent shareholder. All of whom are employees or retired military personnel. In addition, 1803 ‘institutional’ partners. Which consists of the Organization of ‘Regional Command, Battalion, Army, Veteran Combatants’.
The second document is a copy of MEHL’s confidential shareholder report for fiscal year 2010-11. Provides information on the identity of MEHL shareholders, as well as the annual dividend payments received by shareholders between 1990 and 2011.
The shareholders’ report was shared with Amnesty International through the Justice for Myanmar group. The group is campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar. The content of this report is published on the group’s website. On September 1, the Myanmar Ministry of Transport and Communications blocked their access. According to a ministry spokesperson, the website has spread “fake news.”
The total dividend paid to shareholders in the last 20 years is more than 106 billion Myanmar kyat. According to the government exchange rate it is about US $ 16 billion. Of this, £ 95 billion was transferred to military units.
Both documents confirm that MEHL shareholders include military units and high-ranking military officials. That they are directly involved in serious human rights violations under international law.
For example, in the 2010-11 fiscal year report, 95 separate military units were listed as shareholders. This includes the Western Command and they oversee regional operations in Rakhine State. Together, they own over 4.3 million shares and paid out over 1.25 billion kits (£ 206 million) in 2010-11. The document submitted to DICA in 2020 also listed Western Command as a shareholder.
The battalion headquarters of the 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Divisions have also been listed as shareholders. Amnesty International has listed these divisions as crimes against humanity against the Rohingya people in Rakhine State and war crimes in Kachin and North Shan.
The DICA report also mentions high-ranking military officers involved in crimes under international law. Listed shareholder number 9252 of Army Chief General Min Aung Hlaing. In 2010-11, Min Aung Hlaing owned 5,000 shares and received 1.5 million kits (£ 250,000) in dividends. In 2016, the United Nations called for an investigation and trial of Min Aung Hlaing, who oversaw the brutal crackdown on the Rohingya, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
