Biggest Burma Dirty List Ever Published - 30 Companies Exposed

December 15, 2008
OneWorld US, The Burma Campaign UK, Human Rights Watch

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (OneWorld) - The latest -- and longest ever -- list of companies that are directly or indirectly helping finance Burma's repressive military regime was published last week by a UK-based group promoting human rights in the South East Asian nation.

Burma is ruled by military junta. © New America MediaBurma is ruled by military junta. © New America MediaSince the 2002 launch of the 'Dirty List' initiative to expose corporations working with the Burmese military junta, over 100 foreign companies have left the country, reports the author of the list, the Burma Campaign UK. Companies invest in Burma to "make a profit, and are attracted by salaries of less than 25p a day, a compliant workforce where unions are banned, and limited health and safety laws which in any case are rarely enforced. The minimum working age is 13," writes the Burma Campaign. Contesting companies' claims that halting their work will negatively impact regular Burmese, the Burma Campaign cites imprisoned Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi: "we have not yet found proof that large numbers of Burmese have suffered as a result of sanctions. Sanctions have a role to play because they are a strong political message. But also because they are an economic message."
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Burma's military junta has been widely criticized by human rights advocates for it's long history of human rights abuses, including discrimination against minority groups, violent repression of rights activists, and unlawful imprisonment and abuse of political opponents. Just a few weeks ago, Zargana, a famous comedian and social activist in Burma, was sentenced to 45 years in prison for voicing criticism of the Burmese government's response to Cyclone Nargis, reports Human Rights Watch.



Biggest Burma Dirty List Ever Published - 30 Companies Exposed

From: The Burma Campaign UK

11 Dec 2008

For a copy of the Dirty List click here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html

30 new companies have been added to the "Dirty List" published today by the Burma Campaign UK. A total of 170 companies feature on the new list. The 'Dirty List' exposes companies that are directly or indirectly helping to finance Burma's brutal military dictatorship.

"This list proves that the current sanctions are not working. More companies than ever are investing in Burma in the oil, gas and dams sectors. New targeted sanctions against the regime must now be implemented if the international community is serious about cutting the regime's financial lifeline" said Johnny Chatterton, Campaigns Officer at the Burma Campaign UK. "To those that claim investment aids the people of Burma, the evidence shows the opposite is true. As investment has increased, the human rights situation has deteriorated."

The human rights situation in Burma has deteriorated in Burma in the past year as the number of political prisoners has doubled to 2,100 and the regime continues to conduct military offensives against ethnic minorities.

The current sanctions program fails to stop companies that invest in Burma from using financial, insurance and legal services from inside the European Union. The Burma Campaign UK is calling for a rolling series of targeted sanctions, including banning all investment, sanctions on banking and financial transactions, and a ban of insurance companies providing cover for Burma. The current EU sanctions program is outlined in the Notes to Editors, below.
Major companies named and shamed on the list include: Toyota, Qantas, TOTAL Oil, Orient Express, Kuoni, TUI, Schlumberger, BBC Worldwide, Lonely Planet Daewoo, China National Offshore Oil Corp, and Hutchison Whampoa, owner of 3 Mobile.

In the past year many companies have pulled out of Burma including Cotton Traders, XL, Trailblazer Guides, Jet Gold Corp, CHC and Aquatic. Since the Dirty List was first published six years ago over 100 companies have withdrawn from Burma including PwC, Rolls Royce, DHL, Swiss Re and Willis.

The Burmese regime spends half its budget on the military and just 1.4% of GDP on health and education, less than half that spent by the next poorest country in Asia. Burma is the only country in Asia whose defence budget is greater than that of health and education combined. As a consequence Burma has the 4th highest child mortality rate in the world.

The new companies added to the list are the result of new information and an influx of new investment in Burma's gas and hydroelectricity sector.
- 34 companies on the list are in the oil & gas sector.
- 28 companies on the the list are in the hydroelectricity sector
- 57 companies on the list are in the tourism sector - either operating tours to Burma or promoting tourism through guides.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: THE CURRENT SITUATION IN BURMA
Burma is ruled by one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. In October democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi reached a total of 13 years under house arrest. The number of political prisoners has doubled in the past year, today over 2,300 prisoners languish in jail, many subjected to horrific torture. Rape is used as a weapon of war against ethnic minorities.

Current EU measures against Burma include:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on non-humanitarian aid
- An end to GSP trade privileges
- A visa ban for senior regime officials and their families
- A freeze of assets held in Europe by people on the visa ban list
- A limited investment ban
- A ban on imports of, and investment in timber, gems and metals

OneWorld.net: Latest News, Groups Working on Burma

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