This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now being reprinted with permission.
A U.N. human rights reporteur cited Thailand as the new principal source of defense supplies Myanmar was receiving through the global banking system as saying more must be done by financial institutions to quit the Myanmar junta from acquiring weapons.
Thailand said it was studying , the report , from the special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, adding that its banking and financial organizations follow the banks methods of any major economic hotspot.
Andrews noted that work by the international community to stop the flow of arms have had some success, and that many European governments have imposed restrictions on the Myanmar junta that seized energy in a 2021 revolution.
He claimed that the regime’s procurement of weapons, dual-use technologies, manufacturing tools, and materials through the global banking system had decreased by a second from US$ 377 million in the 2022 fiscal year to US$ 253 million in 2023.
However, the junta had used threats to evade restrictions, and its “forces continue tosystematically abuse Myanmar citizens using strong foreign-sourced weapons of war,” according to Andrews in his statement.
The coup, known as the State Administration Council, had used gaps in sanctions regimes, altered financial institutions, and abused the lack of political may on the part of governments to organize and maintain action, he added.  ,
The SAC has identified and violently exploits options to evade sanctions and other international community measures, according to the rapporteur.
Andrews contrasted the answer to Myanmar’s terrible issue from two of its companions: Singapore and Thailand.
In accordance with a U.N. General Assembly resolution that was overwhelmingly passed following the coup, Singapore, a long-standing provider of defense equipment with close business ties to Myanmar, “articulated a clear plan opposing the move of weapons.”
According to Andrews, exports of weapons and relevant materials from Singapore-registered entities using the proper banking system from about US$ 120 million in FY2023, a result of an investigation by the Singapore government, dropped from about US$ 10 million in FY2023.
‘ Top supply ‘
Thailand, on the other hand, does not have an obvious public policy position opposing the transfer of weapons to Myanmar, Andrews said, adding that exports from Thailand- listed entities more than doubled over the same period, from really over US$ 60 million to almost US$ 130 million.
” Many SAC purchases previously made from Singapore- based entities, including parts for Mi- 17 and Mi- 35 helicopters used to conduct airstrikes on civilian targets, are now being sourced from Thailand”, he said.
Thailand has now become the SAC’s main supplier of military equipment purchased through the global banking system, he added.
Andrews noted that if the Thai government responded in the same way the Singapore government did,” the SAC’s capacity to attack the people of Myanmar would be significantly reduced.” As with Singapore, he found no proof that the Thai government was involved in or aware of the transfers.
The foreign ministry of Thailand said in a statement that it had seen Andrews ‘ report and was looking into it.
The ministry said that “many countries have been named, and certainly these are the ones where the majority of financial transactions in the region would pass through.”
” Our financial and banking systems adhere to the same standards as any other major financial hub.” Therefore, we will need to first establish the facts before taking any further steps.”
Andrews demanded that all states that support human rights in Myanmar ban the sale of weapons to its citizens and that all financial institutions suspend communication with Myanmar’s state-owned banks.
The reporteur claimed that purchases made in the formal international banking system and not those made in military procurement processes like in-kind trade or purchases made with hard currency were covered by the findings in his report.
While Singapore’s military exports to Myanmar had dropped dramatically, and those from Russia and China also declined, Indian exports remained constant, according to Andrews, while acknowledging some of Myanmar’s military procurement from those countries may have moved to informal channels.  ,
