Myanmar Army's “Giant Concession” Approaching the Mystery of Funding Sources August 23, 17:23

Six months after the February coup, Myanmar troops have killed more than 1,000 civilians (as of August 23), an increasing number day by day.

Why on earth will the army continue to crack down to that extent?

Interviews with the UN ambassador to Myanmar and former officers who have left the military have revealed that there is a "huge concession structure" that the military is trying to protect.

We analyze the leaked military confidential documents.

What we could see from there was that the military had a huge conglomerate, and dividends on its shares were flowing to military executives and military organizations.

(NHK Special "Approaching the Darkness of Confusion Myanmar Army Suppression")

Repression of citizens No sign of subsidence

Citizens have so far conducted a non-violent and peaceful resistance movement against military coups.

However, the military has strengthened information control over citizens who are trying to suppress such citizens by force and disseminate the actual situation of the crackdown to the world through SNS and so on.

Pressure on the media has also increased, the licenses of the five media have been stripped, and reporters have been detained one after another.

As a result, the number of news reports and SNS information dissemination that convey the tragedy of Myanmar has decreased, and black boxes are becoming more common.

Myanmar Army Justifies Control

On the 1st of this month, Commander Min Aung Hlaing announced that he would become the "provisional prime minister."

Trying to justify military rule.

What exactly does the military want to protect?

The military attributed the coup to the fact that the NLD (National League for Democracy), a political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the general election last year, cheated in the election.

"The real reason is" to protect our interests ""

However, some people have opened their mouths, saying, "There is actually another reason."

Former officers who rebelled against the army and separated from the coup d'etat.

Some of them stood in front of the camera, dare to accuse them with their faces and names.

The former officers all said that the real reason the military had a coup was "to protect their interests."

Former Major

"The reason why the army is killing the people is because they want to have power. If they use weapons to control the country, the national budget and the country's natural resources will have some power. Because it will be available to those who are

Former Captain

"The military had planned to launch a coup from the beginning, and there was a protest demonstration against the coup, and a detailed plan was made, including suppressing the protest demonstration. "

United Nations Ambassador to sue for life-threatening

Some people give the same testimony as these former officers.

This is Mr. Cho Mo Tung, the UN Ambassador.

As a result of his opposition to the coup and strong criticism at the UN General Assembly, he was charged with treason by the military, and from the beginning of August, the assassination plan came to light.

I continue to appeal while still being myself.

United Nations Ambassador to the United Nations Kyaw Moe Tung

"There are military companies owned by the military and they have enjoyed considerable privileges. They have been abusing so many privileges over the years, and even in tax exemptions. They are given preferential treatment. "

What is the reality of military conglomerates?

Investigative journalism approaches

There is a military conglomerate in which high-ranking military officials, including Commander Min Aung Hlaing, are at the center of management.

The names are "MEHL" and "MEC".

There are more than 130 subsidiaries under its umbrella, and they are engaged in everything from daily necessities to finance, telecommunications, and energy businesses.

It is said that these two conglomerates alone are making more profits than any other private company, but the details of how much profit is flowing to the military and military personnel have not been clarified. It was.

Contact a hacker who uncovered confidential military information

Meanwhile, confidential government and military information was hacked and leaked on the Internet.

Over hundreds of thousands of items include all kinds of documents such as budgets, bid records and investment information.

We contacted the hacker who hacked.

Hacker

"Hacking the employee account of the Yangon City Investment Commission has made investment data accessible from all over the world. I thought it needed to be made public before the military financial situation was hidden. is"

News media around the world are now analyzing this vast document.

Of these, we paid particular attention to the funds flowing from military companies to the military.

Dividend of about 2 trillion yen was paid to the military in 20 years

Looking at MEHL's shareholder list for 2019, it was stated that more than 90% of the 380,000 shareholders were military or veterans.

And it turned out that dividends were also paid to more than 1700 military units in each region.

In addition, according to the internal materials of MEHL's stock bureau, it was found that Commander Min Aung Hlaing had received an annual dividend of about 30 million yen 10 years ago.

The total amount of dividends paid to shareholders in 20 years is approximately 2 trillion yen.

MEHL's profits went to military personnel and military organizations in the form of dividends.

"We should cut off the funds that flow to the military."

According to UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tung, it was the party NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi who was trying to break this military interest structure, and the military opposed it and caused a coup. That is.

UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tung

"The reform of the NLD narrowed the territory of the military and the executives were impatient. In order to save the people of Myanmar, all funds flowing to the military should be cut off immediately. International community Should be able to play an important role in continuing to put pressure on ending military rule. "

Did Japanese companies also send funds to the military?

Following the February coup, the US and EU have imposed sanctions on senior military officials and military companies, such as "freezing assets" and "banning transactions."

In addition, companies in each country are also under pressure to review their businesses, including relationships with military companies.

Human Rights Watch, an international human rights group, is also investigating the flow of funds from Japanese companies to Myanmar in order to cut off the sources of funding for the military, which continues to "runaway."

Japan has a deep historical connection with Myanmar.

Since the transition to civilian rule in 2011, more than 400 Japanese companies have expanded into Myanmar.

Mr. Teppei Kasai

"There are actually Japanese companies that are concerned that they may have become a source of income for the Myanmar Armed Forces. Japan has a business relationship with the Myanmar Armed Forces and military companies that have not yet been revealed. The more you dig, the more companies will come out. "

Verifying Japan's Public-Private Partnership Project

As a result of conducting an investigation in cooperation with other human rights groups, it is possible that funds were flowing to the military from a joint project between the public and private sectors.

This is the "Y Complex Project" that has been promoted in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar.

Y Complex is a large facility that houses hotels, commercial facilities, and offices.

Construction began in 2017, and construction has been underway with the opening of this year.

It is promoted mainly by Japanese general contractors, and the total project cost is over 36 billion yen.

Of this amount, government-affiliated financial institutions have financed approximately 5.1 billion yen, and public-private funds have invested approximately 5.6 billion yen.

Mr. Kasai points out that the Y complex was built on the site of a military museum, so the rent may have passed to the military.

Mr. Teppei Kasai

"Since taxes are included in the financial resources of the project money, it is highly possible that the taxes of the Japanese people have flowed to the Myanmar Armed Forces. Unknowingly, the taxes of the Japanese people are in Myanmar. It is likely that it has been used to crack down on people in the country. "

The land contract published by the local company of the joint venture states that the rent is paid to the "defense account" and the lender is the "logistics bureau".

According to experts, the Logistics Agency is a military organization that purchases and manages weapons.

Where is the integrated rent paid?

"The joint venture partner, the Myanmar company, rents land from the Ministry of Defense, which is an institution of the government, but the ultimate beneficiary is Myanmar, not the Ministry of Defense," the general manager, who is focusing on the business, told us. We recognize that it is a national government. "

"The construction has stopped since February 1st, when the coup d'etat occurred, and we have not paid the rent."

Regarding future businesses, he says, "We will keep an eye on changes in the situation."

Human Rights Watch Teppei Kasai

"Looking at the Constitution of Myanmar, the Ministry of Defense is under the control of the Myanmar Armed Forces, so it will be the same as the real army. Will it resume? I want you to respond in a transparent manner as soon as possible. "

To cut off the source of funds for the Myanmar military

The Myanmar army continues to crack down on its citizens.

After the coup d'etat, the Japanese government will forgo new ODA (Official Development Assistance) and will consider suspending ongoing projects depending on the military response, but has not imposed sanctions.

The crackdown on Myanmar's civilians is showing no sign of subsidence.

It is possible that some citizens will be armed and swamped.

As international criticism of the military response increases, especially in Europe and the United States, what should we do with support and corporate activities for Myanmar in the future?

Because of the long-standing relationship, Japan will be forced to take extremely difficult measures.

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Ririko Hirase,

Director of Social Program Department

Joined

Matsuyama Broadcasting Station in

2015.

Good morning After working in Japan, she is currently affiliated.

I stayed in Myanmar for several months when I was a student.