Mizzima

Mega-multinational corporation Adani Group through its subsidiary, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (Adani Ports) who is building a container port in Yangon under agreement with the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), has been called out by international justice groups for funding the Myanmar military violence.

The Australian Centre for International Justice and Justice for Myanmar have published a report calling out the conglomerate for continuing their commercial relationship with the MEC since the 1 February military coup.

According to leaked documents, Adani Ports is paying $30 million to Myanmar Economic Corporation in “land lease fees.”

Adani Ports’ construction of a shipping port on military owned land in Yangon has raised concerns over the complicity of foreign corporations with commercial relationships with Myanmar military companies.

The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar has said that companies, like Adani Ports, are at high risk of contributing to or being complicit, ‘either in law, fact or in the eyes of the public’ with violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law through its contribution to the Myanmar military’s financial capacity.”

In March 2021, the US imposed targeted financial sanctions on the military’s two conglomerates, MEHL and MEC because of their links to grave human rights abuses.

Foreign corporations involved in relationships with the Myanmar military are contributing to the devastating damage the military has inflicted on Myanmar and its path to democratic recovery and growth. In our view, Adani Ports’ record in Myanmar is a shocking account of the pursuit of profits ahead of commitments to respect human rights.

‍Data from Myanmar reveals are 150+ international and domestic companies engaged with military-owned businesses in Myanmar.