Thai Banks Enable Myanmar Junta to Continue War, UN Expert Reports
Bangkok — According to a report by a United Nations (UN) expert, Thai banks have become the primary financiers for Myanmar’s military government. This financial support allows the military to buy the necessary goods and equipment to sustain its brutal war against pro-democracy groups and ethnic minorities.
Background on Myanmar's Junta
In February 2021, Myanmar’s military, also known as the State Administration Council (SAC), took control by ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. After deadly force was used against nonviolent protests, the country descended into civil war. The military has been widely accused of human rights abuses, including bombings targeting civilians.
How Thai Banks Are Involved
The report by Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, explains how Myanmar’s military maintains its arms supply. Initially, sources for these arms were blocked due to sanctions from the United States, the European Union, and other nations. However, companies in Thailand have stepped in to fill this gap.
Important Point: A sanction is a penalty imposed by one country or a group of countries on another, usually to stop undesirable activities. For example, the U.S. and EU imposed sanctions to prevent Myanmar's military from buying more weapons.
Financial Transactions Facilitating War
The report highlights that, over the past year, 16 banks in seven countries processed transactions related to Myanmar’s military procurement. Furthermore, 25 banks have provided banking services to Myanmar’s state-owned banks since the coup.
Key Detail: In one instance, Siam Commercial Bank, a prominent Thai bank, facilitated over $100 million in transactions for Myanmar’s military in the past year, a significant increase from the previous year.
Decline of Singaporean Involvement
Previously, many of these transactions were handled by Singaporean companies. After a previous UN report exposed this, the Singaporean government investigated, and as a result, support from Singaporean banks dropped significantly.
Evidence of Human Rights Violations
The ongoing support from Thai banks is troubling, given the widespread human rights violations in Myanmar. More than 5,000 civilians have been killed, 3 million people displaced, and over 20,000 political prisoners have been detained since the military takeover.
Important Note: Human rights violations refer to actions that violate the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Examples include unlawful killings and forced displacement.
Conclusion
Tom Andrews urges international banks to halt any transactions involving Myanmar’s state-owned banks. He stresses, “Banks have a fundamental obligation to not facilitate crimes—this includes war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Key Takeaways
- Thai banks are key financial supporters of Myanmar’s military regime.
- The financial transactions allow the junta to continue buying weapons and carrying out violent acts.
- Previously, Singaporean banks were major facilitators but have since reduced their involvement dramatically.
- The UN calls for international banks to stop assisting Myanmar’s military to prevent further human rights abuses.
By simplifying and understanding these points, anyone can grasp how financial support, through banks, plays a crucial role in sustaining conflicts and human rights violations in Myanmar.
