There Is A $ 30 Million Land Lease Fee To The Myanmar Military Regime, Indian Conglomerate: We Condemn Human Rights Abuses

Illustration of Myanmar military anti coup demonstration. (Twitter / @ HsuChiKo1)

JAKARTA - The Adani Business Group from India announced that it will consult with authorities and stakeholders regarding its port project in Myanmar, Wednesday, March 31 local time.

This came after human rights groups reported that the subsidiary had agreed to pay millions of dollars to lease companies controlled by the military.

The subsidiary is Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., which in 2020 won the auction to build and operate the Yangon International Terminal, which is said to be an independent project wholly owned and developed by the company.

On Tuesday 30 March, The Australian Center for International Justice and Justice for Myanmar released a report showing documents that Adani's subsidiary would pay up to US $ 30 million in land leases for the project to the Myanmar Economic Cororation (MEC).

MEC is one of two conglomerates controlled by the Myanmar military regime and sanctioned by the United States last week.

Adani did not comment on the rent payments detailed in the report, but said land acquisition for his project was facilitated by the Myanmar Investment Commission under the now ousted civilian government.

"Just like our global counterparts, we are watching the situation in Myanmar carefully and will engage with relevant authorities and stakeholders to seek their advice on the way forward," a spokesman for Adani said in a statement.

The spokesman said the company condemns human rights abuses and is working with independent think tanks to reduce human rights risks. Adani said that his party is building an important and sustainable port infrastructure.

Separately, the owner of Primark, Associated British Foods, said the fashion retailer had suspended orders for its new products in Myanmar after a military coup last month.

"Primark has now stopped new orders in Myanmar," said a spokesman for AB Foods.

Primark is known to have 21 production sites in Myanmar, while in China they have 527 production sites and in India 127 production sites. The retailer's move follows Swedish fashion retailer H&M and Italy's Benetton Group which stopped placing orders in Myanmar earlier this month.

Meanwhile, French renewable energy company Voltalia has decided to withdraw from Myanmar, due to political unrest in the country since the February 1 military coup.

"Voltalia continues to follow the situation very closely and is doing everything possible to ensure the health, safety and security of its 43 employees on site, including 39 Burmese and their subcontractors during this period," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

To note, at least 521 civilians have died in Myanmar's military anti-coup protests to 31 Marts, 141 of them on Saturday, the bloodiest day of the riots, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.

[1/4] BREAKING: Leaked documents reveal @Adaniports paid tens of million of dollars to a #Myanmar military company complicit in shocking human rights abuses. #StopAdani @SPDJIndices @SPGlobal @blackrock @TIAA @jpmorgan @mufgbk_official @HSBC @NorgesBank https://t.co/OszBtcx6qL

- Stop Adani (@stopadani) March 29, 2021