Burma Campaign UK has added 56 more companies to the ‘Dirty List’. The ‘Dirty List’ names companies where there is evidence of links to the Burmese military, human rights violations or environmental destruction.
172 companies are now listed on the ‘Dirty List’, the vast majority for business links to the military or supplying arms or other military equipment.
The updated ‘Dirty List’ is available here.
“The ‘Dirty List’ is continuing to expose international companies helping to fund or equip the Burmese military,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “There is no acceptable form of business relationship with a military which commits genocide, a coup and rapes children.”
All companies added to the list were written to at least one month in advance and given the opportunity to respond and correct any inaccurate or out of date information.
15 Russian companies have been added to the list, including several after Justice for Myanmar exposed their sales of spare parts for military equipment.
Two British companies have been added to the list, GCL International Ltd, an accreditation services company whose logo appears on promotional materials for the Tri-Star tyre brand owned by the Burmese military, and the Daily Mail & General Trust, which licenses copy to the military-owned Myawady Daily newspaper. Neither responded to correspondence from Burma Campaign UK.
“Countries like the USA, Japan and South Korea have arms embargoes but still allow their companies to help fund the military so they can buy arms from countries like Russia and India,” said Mark Farmaner.
Three American companies have been added to the list, including the Carlyle Group, co-owner of AsiaSat, which broadcasts the military-owned MWD TV channels.
“We have seen a much stronger international response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine than we have to genocide, a coup and indiscriminate airstrikes by the Burmese military”, said Mark Farmaner. “The fact that so many companies are still linked to the Burmese military, including some of the biggest US tech firms such as Apple, shows the inconsistent and weak response to violations on international law by the Burmese military.”
Burma Campaign UK is continuing to research companies linked to the Burmese military and is planning another update in July 2022.