As India prepares to host the prestigious B20 Business Summit, ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, the role of Indian companies in funding and arming the Burmese military is receiving more attention.
Burma Campaign UK has added 7 more Indian companies to the ‘Dirty List’ of international companies funding or arming the Burmese military or linked to human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar.
The seven companies are:
Sandeep Metalcraft
Sandeep Metalcraft is an Indian metals and arms manufacturing company. It boasts of being the biggest fuzes supplier in India. According to information from Justice from Myanmar, on March 25, 2022, Sandeep Metalcraft shipped 3000 fuzes to Creative Exploration, an arms broker in Burma which supplies the Burmese military. The company has also previously supplied arms and equipment to the Burmese military.
Yantra India Ltd
Yantra India Ltd is an Indian state-owned arms company. It supplied 122mm barrels to the Myanmar military on October 27, 2022, likely to be used for howitzers.
Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL)
Bharat Electronics is an Indian state-owned arms manufacturer with a long track record of supplying arms and equipment to the Burmese military. Since the attempted coup sales have included a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS)/air defence weapon station and equipment to the Myanmar navy. In 2019 Min Aung Hlaing personally visited their manufacturing facilities in India.
Mantra Softech
Mantra Softech is an Indian biotechnology software company. It was worked with military controlled ministries to install biotech immigration checks, including using the technology to identify people on military blacklists. Such blacklists include human rights activists who could face arrest, torture, imprisonment or execution.
Electropneumatics & Hydraulics (India) Pvt. Ltd
Electropneumatics & Hydraulics (India) Pvt. Ltd is an Indian company which describes itself as a total solutions provider with in-house strengths in mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, electronics, software domains. It states that the company is: “built on a firm foundation of ethics and a strong sense of responsibility.” A report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar lists the company as selling equipment directly to the Burmese military.
Jainkoch Corporation
Jainkoch Corporation is an Indian export company. A report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar lists the company as selling equipment such as motors, timing belts, and laboratory items directly to the Burmese military.
Sai Sree Infra Developers
Sai Sree Infra Developers is an Indian laboratory equipment supplier. A report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar lists the company as selling equipment such as motors, timing belts, and laboratory items directly to the Burmese military.
All the companies were written to and given the opportunity to respond before being placed on the ‘Dirty List’.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation in Myanmar has highlighted the role of Indian companies arming the Burmese military in his report: ‘Billion Dollar Death Trade’, available here.
“Indian companies must stop arming and funding the Burmese military,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to host the G20 summit, he should be called out over his support for the Burmese military. By providing money, arms and diplomatic support to the Burmese military, Modi is making India complicit in violations of international law.”
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