A fiery chaos erupted in Pazigyi village, nestled in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, when an aerial attack by the Myanmar military tragically ended the lives of about 160 individuals, including 40 innocent children, in April 2023.
Fast forward to the 2023-24 fiscal year, the value of weapons and related materials exported from Thailand to Myanmar soared to an astounding $120 million, doubling from the previous year, according to a report spearheaded by Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. His report, titled “Death Trade: How Banks and Governments Enable the Military Junta in Myanmar,” paints a vivid picture of how international efforts to cut off Myanmar’s ruling junta have seen mixed results. Although there have been significant strides in reducing shipments from Singapore-based companies, thanks to stringent measures from the city-state’s government, businesses in Thailand have filled in the void with alarming efficiency.
Mr. Andrews spotlighted 16 banks across seven countries that processed transactions linked to military procurement by Myanmar over the past two years, along with 25 others that provided correspondent banking services to Myanmar state-owned banks under the junta’s command.
“By leaning on financial institutions willing to do business with Myanmar state-owned banks under its control, the junta has unfettered access to the financial services necessary to perpetuate systematic human rights violations, including catastrophic aerial assaults on civilians,” Mr. Andrews explained.
Myanmar has been engulfed in chaos since the military seized power from a democratically elected government in a 2021 coup, prompting a cascade of financial sanctions from Western nations targeting the military, banks, and other affiliated businesses. What began as a protest movement has snowballed into a full-scale civil war, with the military accused of striking air attacks indiscriminately on insurgents and civilians as it loses grip over expansive territories.
According to the report, the junta’s imported weaponry, dual-use technologies, manufacturing equipment, and other materials amounted to $253 million in the fiscal year ending March 2024—a figure that marks a drop of one-third from the previous year. This significant decrease is largely attributed to efforts by Singapore to curb its companies from supporting the military regime.
Mr. Andrews stressed to Reuters that these measures illustrate how sanctions and concerted international actions can impede the junta’s ability to resupply and, consequently, limit their capacity to carry out air strikes that have wreaked havoc on civilian lives.
“The means by which they carry out these brutal attacks on villages rely heavily on their access to overseas-supplied weapons and materials,” Andrews emphasized.
The Myanmar military has consistently denied allegations of committing atrocities against civilians, maintaining that they are combating “terrorists.” Officials have downplayed the repercussions of sanctions, claiming they merely slow down the military’s plan to steer the country back toward democracy.
Mr. Andrews’ report identified $630 million in military procurement by entities controlled by Myanmar’s defense ministry between 2022 and 2024. While the value of exports from Singapore plummeted from over $110 million in 2022 to just above $10 million, Thailand stepped in partly to bridge the gap. Thai companies transferred weapons and related materials worth $120 million in 2023, starkly up from $60 million the previous year.
The report sheds light on how Thai banks played an instrumental role in this shift. For example, the Siam Commercial Bank facilitated just over $5 million in transactions related to the Myanmar military in the year ending March 2023. This figure skyrocketed to over $100 million in the subsequent year.
Adding more gravity to the situation, Thai-registered companies became the State Administration Council’s (SAC) new source for spare parts for their Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters—components previously supplied by Singapore-based firms. These helicopters have been utilized for transporting soldiers and executing air strikes on civilian targets, such as the devastating attack on Pazigyi village in April 2023 that resulted in the deaths of around 170 people, including 40 children.
When questioned about Thailand’s stance in an April interview with Reuters, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared that Thailand would remain neutral, addressing all concerns in the ongoing conflict.
The Myanmar military has stated that the Pazigyi village strike targeted and killed members of the armed resistance. Yet, the haunting memories of that April day in Pazigyi village endure, urging the world to reflect on the profound consequences of arming a regime brutalizing its own people.
It’s appalling how Thailand has stepped in to supply weapons to Myanmar. They should face global condemnation!
But isn’t it also the responsibility of the international community to fill in the void left by sanctions? Economic interests always find a way to persist.
Sure, but does it absolve Thailand of complicity in these atrocities? They should prioritize human rights over profits.
Sanctions are a blunt instrument. Often they hurt the regular people more than the regime they target. Maybe Thailand is just playing a pragmatic card.
Honestly, what’s the use of these reports if the world isn’t taking real action? It’s all just more talking and no doing.
The UN has exposed something major here. Let’s hope this leads to tangible steps towards peace.
I doubt it. The UN often exposes issues, but real change requires coordinated effort from powerful nations, which we rarely see.
True, but awareness and reporting are a starting point. Without them, there’s no basis for coordinated action.
Awareness is one thing, but unless the countries supplying arms face severe consequences, nothing will change.
It’s heartbreaking to see that even children aren’t spared in these brutal assaults. Where’s the humanity?
Wars have always been brutal and children have often been the worst affected. Sadly, the powerful prey on the weak.
We must demand accountability from those responsible. These children deserve justice.
Thailand’s neutral stance is just a cover for their economic interests. They need to be held accountable.
What do you expect them to do? Countries act on their interests. Welcome to the real world.
The global community needs to step up and impose harder sanctions on countries aiding the Myanmar military.
Sanctions might work in the short term, but they can also lead to unintended consequences that can hurt innocent people.
Then what’s the alternative? Doing nothing while the junta massacres civilians?
I think more diplomatic efforts are needed to resolve the conflict. Violence continues while politicians play blame games.
Diplomacy is good, but not with a regime that’s blatantly violating human rights. They need to face consequences.
Consequences are necessary, but they should be paired with dialogue. Otherwise, it’s a never-ending cycle of violence.
Why does the world care more about economic losses than human lives? This is so disappointing.
Unfortunately, the world has always prioritized economic interests. It’s up to us to push for change.
Economic interests fuel everything, but public pressure can shift priorities towards human rights.
Instead of supplying weapons, Thailand could focus on humanitarian aid. Imagine the difference it would make!
This reminds me so much of past conflicts where arms trade fueled prolonged suffering. When will we learn?
History does repeat itself, sadly. We need more than just awareness—we need strong international frameworks to prevent this.
Agreed. Until then, it’s our moral duty to keep pushing for justice and hold perpetrators accountable.
I think there’s more to the story. Not everything is black and white. Thailand may have had other geopolitical reasons.
That’s possible, but it doesn’t excuse supporting a regime committing human rights violations.
True, but international politics is complicated. There’s always more below the surface.
Kudos to Singapore for reducing their support. Other nations should follow suit!
Singapore has shown it can be done. Now it’s high time for global unity against these atrocities.
Horrific. Countries like Thailand need to stop providing tools for destruction and start advocating for peace.
Absolutely, Alex. It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening due to these weapons.
We need stronger international regulations to prevent such alliances. National interests should not overshadow humanitarian concerns.
Why has it taken so long for the world to recognize the severity of this conflict? So many lives lost already!
People are often desensitized to distant conflicts. It’s tragic but true.