Bank of Thailand to Probe Alleged Weapons Payments to Myanmar Junta

[webfact]

 

Thailand's central bank and anti-laundering office are set to investigate claims that Thai commercial banks facilitated transactions for weapons purchases by Myanmar's junta, the Thai foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

 

Since Myanmar’s military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in 2021, the country has been engulfed in violent turmoil. This coup led to severe crackdowns and widespread instability. In response, international bodies like the United States and the European Union have issued sanctions against members of Myanmar's junta and its associated businesses.

 

A recent report by a UN expert claimed that the junta has imported nearly $130 million in military supplies from Thailand-registered suppliers from March 2023 to March 2024, a stark increase compared to the previous year. The report, authored by special rapporteur Tom Andrews, highlighted the pivotal role of five Thai commercial banks in these transactions.

 

Following this report, Thai officials convened on Wednesday to discuss these potential connections between Thai banks and the Myanmar junta's arms procurement. "The Bank of Thailand and the anti-money laundering office will jointly establish a Task Force to investigate these transactions," stated Nikorndej Balankura, Thai foreign affairs ministry spokesperson. However, no specific timeline for the investigation was provided.

 

Myanmar's military coup disrupted a brief period of democratic governance, thrusting the nation into chaos. The junta is now engaged in fierce conflicts with established ethnic minority armed groups and newly formed pro-democracy "People’s Defence Forces."

 

Rights organisations and monitoring groups have accused the junta of committing potential war crimes in its efforts to crush dissent. Reports indicate that over 5,400 people have been killed and 27,000 arrested in the junta's crackdown since the 2021 coup.

 

The outcome of Thailand's investigation could shed light on the financial networks enabling Myanmar's military operations, potentially influencing international actions against banking facilitations linked to human rights abuses.

 

TOP Image for representation only. Picture courtesy: Indian Express

 

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[Sydebolle]

Guess how the Khmer Rouge, some 45+ years back, got their war gear, being cut off the sea and no chance of getting the stuff through Vietnam? Maybe Chavalit and deceased Samak might have shed some light into that very dark corner of Thailand's position towards her neighbour to the East. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A recent report by a UN expert claimed that the junta has imported nearly $130 million in military supplies from Thailand-registered suppliers from March 2023 to March 2024, a stark increase compared to the previous year. The report, authored by special rapporteur Tom Andrews, highlighted the pivotal role of five Thai commercial banks in these transactions.

Seems they have strong evidence to back-up the allegation.

Shame on Thailand.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"The Bank of Thailand and the anti-money laundering office will jointly establish a Task Force to investigate these transactions," stated Nikorndej Balankura, Thai foreign affairs ministry spokesperson. However, no specific timeline for the investigation was provided.

 

Sometime never

[ChrisY1]

The SE Asean despot run nations are all similar.....money over-rides ethics!

[Skipalongcassidy]

4 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

The SE Asean despot run nations are all similar.....money over-rides ethics!

As it does in almost the entire world... in fact... please name one country that it doesn't

[cncltd1973]

Thailand’s military junta "democracy" showing it's true colors. sanctions to follow?

[JimHuaHin]

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

Guess how the Khmer Rouge, some 45+ years back, got their war gear, being cut off the sea and no chance of getting the stuff through Vietnam? Maybe Chavalit and deceased Samak might have shed some light into that very dark corner of Thailand's position towards her neighbour to the East. 

There have been some general media and academic articles on this issue over the years, in some cases providing some names of those involved - basically Cambodian gems and teak for Thai-supplied arms.

[Tropicalevo]

In Thailand - only money rules.

Stuff morals, democracy and humanity.

[Tropicalevo]

44 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

There have been some general media and academic articles on this issue over the years, in some cases providing some names of those involved - basically Cambodian gems and teak for Thai-supplied arms.

Same with the drug and gem trade with Burma.

[Srikcir]

Gutsy. Can't wait for the court to rule such investigation as unconstitutional.

[natway09]

Who gave permission for the Myanmar Junta's  plane to land in Mae Sot & not only  pick up 

their personnel but a big bag of money which came from ??????

 

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Guess how the Khmer Rouge, some 45+ years back, got their war gear, being cut off the sea and no chance of getting the stuff through Vietnam? Maybe Chavalit and deceased Samak might have shed some light into that very dark corner of Thailand's position towards her neighbour to the East. 

 

With respect, not quite true. During the era of the Khmer Rouge, there was sea access at Sihanoukville Deep Water Port and weapons could have been imported from China and Russia. (ref)

 

In April 1975, when the country fell to the Khmer Rouge regime, the port was the last evacuation site of the U.S. Army. During the Cambodian genocide, nearly all business and industry in Sihanoukville came to a halt.

 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sihanoukville

 

The fate of a young New Zealand sailor who was arrested when he sailed into Cambodia Waters. (A young British sailor met the same fate)

 

 

Kerry Hamill was a great letter-writer, so his family knew something was wrong when his carefully penned correspondence stopped in 1978. The young New Zealander accidentally sailed into Cambodian waters and was then captured, tortured and killed by the Khmer Rouge at the S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where thousands died. 

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-12/nt-cambodia-kerry-hamill-khmer-rouge/101142036

Edited July 26 by Burma Bill
additional information

[Sydebolle]

10 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

 

With respect, not quite true. During the era of the Khmer Rouge, there was sea access at Sihanoukville Deep Water Port and weapons could have been imported from China and Russia. (ref)

 

In April 1975, when the country fell to the Khmer Rouge regime, the port was the last evacuation site of the U.S. Army. During the Cambodian genocide, nearly all business and industry in Sihanoukville came to a halt.

 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sihanoukville

 

The fate of a young New Zealand sailor who was arrested when he sailed into Cambodia Waters. (A young British sailor met the same fate)

 

 

Kerry Hamill was a great letter-writer, so his family knew something was wrong when his carefully penned correspondence stopped in 1978. The young New Zealander accidentally sailed into Cambodian waters and was then captured, tortured and killed by the Khmer Rouge at the S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, where thousands died. 

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-12/nt-cambodia-kerry-hamill-khmer-rouge/101142036

Kompong Som was the name of the port back in the day. The Khmer Rouge stronghold were from Kampot all the way along the Thai border to Pailin. Of course lots of stuff got over the green border; weapons in and refugees out. But the main supplies were wheeled in through Buriram and Surin and I remember those military conveys moving towards the border then. I assume, that they were not shuttling kiddies biscuits then either 😉 

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, natway09 said:

Who gave permission for the Myanmar Junta's  plane to land in Mae Sot & not only  pick up 

their personnel but a big bag of money which came from ??????

 

It wasn't just one big bag, it was truck loads all laundered through Thailand and no tax paid.

[Burma Bill]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai commercial banks facilitated transactions for weapons purchases by Myanmar's junta,

 

I personally hope these weapons are now in the hands of the ethnic armies fighting for democracy and freedom throughout many areas of Burma. The Junta is very slowly crumbling, the latest defeat being in Lashio in the Shan State. As Tatmadaw soldiers are killed or captured, their weapons and ammunition are being seized by the "freedom" armies and used against them. Thank you Thai banks.

Reference 26 July 2024

 

A Myanmar rebel group claims to have seized a major regional military headquarters in the city of Lashio near the border with China, in what would mark a historic and humiliating defeat for the country’s military junta. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) said that it had completely captured the military’s Northeastern Regional Command headquarters at 4 a.m. that morning, after 23 days of fighting. “The liberation of Lashio will mark a historic victory in our revolution,” the group declared. The MNDAA also claimed to have established effective control over the city of Lashio, which lies 110 kilometers south of the Chinese border. “Our army has won a decisive victory and is now clearing out the remaining enemy (Tatmadaw) troops. The city is now declared completely liberated,” it added, urging the public to remain calm and comply with its administration of the city.

 

https://thediplomat.com/2024/07/myanmar-rebel-group-claims-capture-of-major-military-hq-in-shan-state/

[DrPhibes]

22 hours ago, cncltd1973 said:

Thailand’s military junta "democracy" showing it's true colors. sanctions to follow?

Which would throw Thailand right into China's lap.

[cncltd1973]

50 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Which would throw Thailand right into China's lap.

Thailand appears to be slowly climbing onto China's lap already. their pyramid of corruption aligns closer to the bamboo fist of China than western democracy, unfortunately