India must also stop Rohingya refugee deportations
As Boris Johnson arrives in India for a trade promotion visit, Burma Campaign UK called on the Prime Minister to call on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop arms sales to the Burmese military, and to end deportations of Rohingya refugees.
India has been a longstanding supplier of arms and military equipment to the Burmese military, and was listed as an arms supplier in a recent report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur.
United Nations investigators have concluded that the Burmese military have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Countries supplying arms to the Burmese military are complicit in these crimes.
Since the attempted military coup on 1st February 2021, more than 1,700 people have been killed, more than 13,000 arrested and more than 550,000 people forced to flee their homes.
India abstained on a UN General Assembly Resolution last year condemning the military coup in February 2021. India has continued to promote business with the Burmese military and refuses to impose an arms embargo.
Hasina Begum, a Rohingya refugee registered with the UNHCR, was deported by the Indian government in March, after being held in detention for a year. Her husband and three children remain in India.
“Modi supplies arms to the Burmese military knowing that they are likely to be used against civilians,” said Anna Roberts, Executive Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Boris Johnson must call on Modi to stop arming the Burmese military, and to stop deporting Rohingya refugees.”
Several Indian companies are on the ‘Dirty List’ published by Burma Campaign UK, including Tata Group, which has supplied vehicles to the Burmese military. In the UK Tata is best known for its Tetley brand of tea.
UN Special Rapporteur report on arms sales to the Burmese military.
Human Rights Watch briefing on Rohingya deportations.
Burma Campaign UK ‘Dirty List’.