War profiteers fuelling the Burmese regime

Last month's protest in Burma revealing the violence and crimes of the Burmese military dictatorship has also helped identify the war profiteers that are supporting this Burmese military dictatorship. While many governments came up with strong declarations against the Burmese dictatorship many of the big companies that these government support are making high profitable business thanks to their relations with the dictatorship. Some of the major companies profiteering in Burma are: Total Oil, Chevron, Daewoo, Orient Express and Hutchison Whampoa - owner of 3 Mobile.

Amy Goodman in her weekly column said "Fueling the military junta that has ruled for decades are Burma's natural gas reserves, controlled by the Burmese regime in partnership with the U.S. multinational oil giant Chevron, the French oil company Total and a Thai oil firm. Offshore natural gas facilities deliver their extracted gas to Thailand through Burma's Yadana pipeline. The pipeline was built with slave labor, forced into servitude by the Burmese military (...) Chevron role in propping up the brutal regime in Burma is clear. According to Marco Simons, U.S. legal director at Earth Right International: "Sanctions haven't worked because gas is the lifeline of the regime. Before Yadana went online, Burma's regime was facing severe shortages of currency. It's really Yadana gas projects that kept the military regime afloat to buy arms and ammunitions and pay its soldiers."

There has been a rapid reaction to the events in Burma and many campaign groups have targeted these war profiteers. Two weeks ago there was a picket in front of Total Oil UK Headquarters- the French company controlling the natural gas reserves. Also Campaign for Human Rights in Burma in the UK has released a list of companies with ties to the military regime and are calling to pressure them to withdraw from Burma. Following this call, Rolls Royce has sent a statement that they have decided to cease all business with the country. Rolls Royce is a major war profiteer in the UK. Rolls Royce's customer base includes 160 armed forces. Its engines are currently used in around 25% of the world's military aircraft, including BAE Systems Hawk jets. Rolls Royce also produces marine propulsion systems that are in use by 70 navies globally.

Here you can find the full list of companies profiteering from the Burmese regime.