Myanmar’s junta still has access to weapons and money overseas, says UN expert By Reuters
Written by Simon Lewis
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – International efforts to isolate Myanmar’s ruling junta appear to have hampered its ability to buy new troops overseas, but the military is still able to get money and weapons for its fight against insurgents, a UN expert said. in a report published on Wednesday.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military took power from an elected government in a 2021 coup, which lifted financial sanctions imposed on the military, banks and other businesses with ties to the West.
More than three years on, the anti-coup protest has turned into an all-out civil war, with the military accused of attacking rebels and civilians alike as they lose control of large areas.
The report of the UN special secretary on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, found the value of weapons, dual-use technology, production equipment and other items imported by the junta to reach $ 253 million per year until March 2024. .
That was a third less than last year, the report said, due to Singapore’s efforts to prevent its companies from aiding the junta.
Andrews told Reuters in an interview that progress has shown that sanctions and other international efforts can affect the junta’s ability to reactivate, and therefore reduce the military’s ability to launch attacks such as airstrikes that have killed civilians in their areas.
“The way they attack these villages depends on their access to weapons and supplies from abroad,” said Andrews.
Myanmar’s military denies allegations of atrocities and says it is fighting “terrorists.” Officials downplayed the impact of the sanctions and said they were delaying the military’s plan to return the country to democracy.
Andrews looked at the procurement of entities controlled by the junta’s defense ministry, identifying $630 million in military procurement between 2022 and 2024.
Exports from Singapore fell from more than $110 million in fiscal year 2022 to just over $10 million, the report said.
However, Myanmar’s neighbor, Thailand, partially closed the gap. Companies registered in Thailand transferred arms and related items worth $120 million in fiscal year 2023, compared to $60 million last year, the report said.
“In a surprising example, in 2023, companies registered in Thailand became the SAC’s source of spare parts for Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters that companies registered in Singapore had previously provided,” the report said, referring to the junta’s official name. Council of State Administration.
“SAC uses these helicopters to transport troops and airstrikes on civilian targets, such as the April 2023 attack on Pazigyi village in Sagaing Region that killed about 170 people, including 40 children.”
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told Reuters in an interview in April that Thailand will not take sides and will address all concerns in the dispute.
The military said members of the armed forces were killed in the Pazigyi strike.
