Investigates The Financial Of Aung San Suu Kyi's Foundation, Myanmar Military Is Eyeing Foreign Funds?

Aung San Suu Kyi. (Wikimedia Commons/C. George)

JAKARTA - The regime of Myanmar's Military Junta is known to have started a financial investigation into the Dan Khin Kyi Foundation, a nature foundation founded by Myanmar State Advisor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained since the military coup on February 1.

This action is feared as a form of the Military Junta to find the faults of Aung San Suu Kyi, so that the charges imposed on her are increasing.

"Two foundation executives were summoned by officials at the military investigation bureau in Yangon, a week ago," said Aung San Suu Kyi's family, according to The Irrawaddy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung said the executive had not been arrested but was required to go to the bureau every day to be asked about the foundation's finances.

"He had to go there in the morning, but back home at night, he was asked about [the foundation's] accounts during the day," he said.

Named after the late Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Khin Kyi, the foundation was founded in 2012 to promote the improvement of the health, education, and living standards of the people of Myanmar, especially in disadvantaged areas of the country.

Until the coup, the foundation also received public donations for the COVID-19 vaccination. As of January 29, two days before the takeover, the company had transferred a total of 2.5 billion kyats or about 1.77 million US dollars to the government. After the coup, the foundation announced a temporary closure.

Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung's wife said in a recent Facebook post that her husband has proven there are no irregularities in the foundation's finances. So far no foundation's property has been confiscated by the Myanmar military.

"Since the investigation is likely to end in a day or two, I believe the truth will prevail and his involvement [in the investigation] will end completely," she said.

The reasons for a military investigation into the foundation are still unclear, but it has sparked speculation that regime officials are searching through its affairs for whatever reason to file more charges against it, for example, receiving money from foreign countries.

In a statement on its website, the foundation said it was politically neutral and worked with government agencies, international NGOs, and other partners.

"Receiving funds from within the country as well as from Burmese friends abroad, we can accept charitable donations, public and private subsidies, and legacy according to law," the foundation wrote.