![]() ![]() It also faces civilian rebel groups and increasing resistance in border areas where it has been battling ethnic armed groups for decades.Īt the top of Russia’s list of state-run defence conglomerates is Rostec, a complex web of 15 holding companies and 70 entities, many of which have supplied the Myanmar military with equipment such as parts for fighter jets, combat helicopters and surface-to-air missiles. ![]() Since then, the military has cracked down on the Myanmar people in a series of violent attacks, killing at least 1,707 people as of March 25, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. While the relationships are longstanding, they have become especially important to the regime since the coup when the military toppled Myanmar’s elected government and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Justice for Myanmar (JFM), a rights advocacy group that investigates military investments in the country, on Sunday revealed a list of 19 Russian arms suppliers that have provided the military with equipment, calling for them to be sanctioned. Still, while the Myanmar military’s arsenal includes arms and equipment from numerous countries, Russia remains its top international defence partner. Other countries have also not ended ties, with Japan continuing to provide training to officers and cadets, according to Human Rights Watch. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which provides data on the international arms trade, shows arms sales between Myanmar and these countries peaking around 2018-2019, but tapering off shortly before the generals seized power. While Russian and Chinese arms exports have shown no signs of slowing, Serbia, which delivered rockets and ammunition shortly after the military seized power, has since said that it will halt all future sales.īelarus, India, Pakistan, Ukraine, South Korea and Israel were also flagged in the report, having sold military equipment to Myanmar before the coup. On Armed Forces Day in 2021, the military shot at protesters, killing some 160 people In a report to the UN Human Rights Council in late February, Andrews identified Russia as one of three states – the others being China and Serbia – to have supplied weapons to Myanmar since the coup despite their use against civilians. Indeed, the Myanmar military was one of the few that came to the Kremlin’s defence after the invasion of Ukraine, describing the attack as an “appropriate action” to news network VOA Burmese. Russia has been a steady supplier of weapons and the junta has travelled to Moscow to see the weapons firsthand and meet with Russian military officials and arms dealers,” said Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.Īlong with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin, who attended the parade in 2021, several Russian pilots are set to provide a demonstration of the new fighter jets that the military recently purchased, underlining the regime’s increasingly close relationship with Moscow, its biggest source of arms. ![]() “ have a close and very important relationship. It has been preparing for Sunday’s parade for several weeks, and it appears Russia – a fellow outcast after its February invasion of Ukraine – will once again be an honoured guest. The United States, Britain and Canada all announced new sanctions on Saturday – targeting arms dealers and the air force.īut the military has not let its international isolation dampen the mood. This year, they are facing accusations from the United Nations and others of committing atrocities that amount to crimes against humanity. Last year, as the generals celebrated the occasion with its usual pomp, security forces across the country launched lethal attacks against protesters opposed to the February coup, killing some 160 civilians in a single day. Myanmar’s military usually marks Armed Forces Day with a grand parade in the country’s capital as commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing – in full regalia – inspects his troops from an open-topped four-wheel drive. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |