Myanmar's military masters

A global coalition of some 88 civil society organizations (CSOs) is calling on the Security Council to seriously consider an arms embargo against the Myanmar military– and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for crimes and serious abuses

"All concerned UN member states should also consider bilateral, multilateral, and regional actions they can take to place added pressure on the Myanmar government,” the coalition said. “In particular, we call on all states to immediately suspend military assistance and cooperation with Myanmar,” said the coalition in a statement. The coalition includes Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Refugee International, Burma Campaign UK, the National Council of Churches and Minority Rights Group International.

Myanmar’s military clout and its political arrogance depend largely on the staggering array of Russian and Chinese weapons at its command. And any resolution imposing economic or military sanctions on Myanmar is likely to be vetoed either by China or Russia – or both.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between 2010 and 2016, China reached agreements to transfer a variety of weapons to Myanmar, including anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems, frigates, and tanks.

During the same time period, Russia reached agreements to sell fighter aircraft, combat helicopters, light helicopters, and surface-to-air missiles.

Meanwhile, Israel’s newspaper, Haaretz, has accused Israel of “arming war criminals”. In an editorial early September, the newspaper said the violence directed at Myanmar’s Rohingya minority by the country’s regime has intensified, including burning of their villages—“information that has been confirmed by satellite images”.

“But none of this has led to a change in the policy of the Israeli Defense Ministry, which is refusing to halt weapons sales to the regime in Myanmar”.

Other key arms suppliers include North Korea and Pakistan.

Myanmar’s huge arsenal includes MiG-29 fighter planes, Antonov An-148 transport planes, Mi-35 attack helicopters and T-55 and T-72 battle tanks (all from Russia) and Chengdu F-7/FT-7 Airguard and Nanchang A-5M fighters and ground attack aircraft, Aung Zeya Class and Jianghu II class frigates, Offshore Patrol Ships, HQ-2 surface-to-air missiles, 122mm and 130mm artillery, battlefield rocket launchers and other munitions (all from China). Myanmar has reportedly ordered 16 Chinese-Pakistani JF-17 Thunder multirole fighters, of which initial deliveries are expected to begin later this year. The Tatmadaw military budget for 2016 was estimated at about $2.33 billion, whilst the 2017 earmark is placed at $2.14 billion.The defense budget for Myanmar is, in general, quite inscrutable and all figures involve topline budgetary governmental requests which likely do not include supplemental areas of funding for which the military has exclusive access. Through the Special Funds Law, the power to grant itself additional – even unlimited – funds without announcing its actions to Parliament beforehand or seeking the legislature’s approval, Darling said.

The military regime appears battle-ready for any possible confrontation with neighbouring Bangladesh, which has demanded that Myanmar take back the nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees driven out of the country — and seeking shelter in Bangladesh.