A report released by the Special Advisory Council on Myanmar (SAC-M) on Monday revealed that several countries, including India, have been helping Myanmar’s military government procure weapons to stomp out its opposition.
Companies from 13 countries have been assisting the junta government directly or indirectly by providing “critical” supplies. These include France, Israel, Austria, Ukraine, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, China, India, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and the US.
India’s Role
The Myanmar military’s Directorate of Defence Industries (DDI) depends on the import of several weapons components, such as fuses, cast boosters, detonating caps, igniters, and electric detonators, to use in its local factories.
These include supplies produced by companies legally domiciled in France, Austria, Germany, the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Russia, China, Ukraine and India. 2/ #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #CutTheWeapons
— Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (@SpecialCouncil) January 16, 2023
While many of these parts are sourced from companies domiciled in India and China, the report noted that “the poor quality of many of the Chinese products upon which the DDI depends” has prompted it to “progressively turn to other countries, including India, for critical supplies.”
It further said that the DDI “is planning for other countries, including India, to play an increasingly important role for the weapon production industry in Myanmar.”
To this end, the report found “several companies domiciled in India” to be supplying the DDI with “end-items,” such as “optical sights,” which are meant to be “fitted to made-in-Myanmar small arms such as sniper rifles.”
It also stated that the junta’s need for importing the component is likely to continue and expand.
The report draws on a range of sources incl' leaked budget-related documents from the #Myanmar military's Ministry of Defence & DDI, shipment records, interviews w/ individuals formerly associated w/ the Myanmar military & photo evidence shared by them & open-source materials. 4/
— Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (@SpecialCouncil) January 16, 2023
Recommendations
The report mentioned that all states had “a duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business enterprises, through appropriate policies, regulation and adjudication” under international human rights law.
The report noted that it is presently unclear whether the home states of these companies have upheld their responsibility regarding the products. It, therefore, called on the identified nations to “investigate and, as relevant, initiate administrative and/or legal proceedings against the companies whose parts and components, end-items and machinery and technology are relied upon” by the DDI.
The weapons produced in #Myanmar have been, & continue to be used by the Myanmar military to commit widespread human rights violations that amount to the most serious crimes under int'l law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity & genocide. 6/ #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
— Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (@SpecialCouncil) January 16, 2023
Arms Sales to Myanmar
A few months after Myanmar’s military coup in February 2021, the UN General Assembly failed to vote on a draft resolution calling “for an immediate suspension of the direct and indirect supply, sale or transfer of all weapons and munitions” to Myanmar.
Following this, the UN Special Rapporteur to Myanmar, Thomas Andrews, presented a report to the UN Human Rights council, wherein he raised concern about countries continuing to supply arms to Naypyidaw despite substantial evidence of their use in human rights crimes. The UN expert said that the country’s military junta is being supplied with arms from China, Russia, and Serbia.
Meanwhile, the home States of companies identified may be in breach of their obligations and duties under applicable international human rights and humanitarian law. 8/ #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #CutTheWeapons
— Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (@SpecialCouncil) January 16, 2023
Last November, Russia began delivering the first batch of six Sukhoi Su-30s combat jets to the Myanmar military.
In this regard, the US and the EU imposed a fresh round of sanctions against high-ranking military officials in Myanmar as well as entities and individuals involved in financing and providing arms to the military.