To underscore the Singapore’s vital role in the supply of funds, weapons, and related equipment to Myanmar’s junta, advocacy group Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has launched a “Dirty Over 30” list featuring nine tycoons whose businesses in Singapore are linked to war crimes.
The list by the advocacy group spoofs Forbes “30 Under 30” list.
JFM said those it is list have two things in common: “All of them got rich supporting unthinkable brutality, mass-murder and war crimes in Myanmar, and all of them are old enough to know better.”
The list aims to increase pressure on Singapore—the third-largest supplier of arms and related-equipment to the Myanmar military—and other ASEAN member nations to block the flow of funds and weapons to the junta.
ASEAN leaders are gathering this week in Indonesia for the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
Topping the list is notorious Myanmar arms broker Tay Za. The Singapore resident is the founder and chairperson of Htoo Group of Companies, which has deep links to Myanmar’s current and former military regimes.
“These days, Tay Za spends much of his time at his lavish three-story villa on Sentosa Island in Singapore, where he operates at least 17 businesses that support the Myanmar military as it continues to inflict mass suffering on the people of Myanmar,” JFM notes.
Naing Htut Aung, founder and managing director of International Gateways, a key arms trader supplying the air force and navy and Aung Hlaing Oo of Myanmar Chemical and Machinery Group who serves as an arms dealer helping Myanmar’s military procure the machinery, equipment and technology needed to manufacture sophisticated weapons are also included in the list.
Five companies in the International Gateways Group network remain registered in Singapore, JFM said.
“How long will the Singaporean government let Naing Htut Aung support the illegitimate Myanmar military junta from within its borders?” it asked.
While Aung Hlaing Oo is sanctioned by several countries, the Singapore branch of his conglomerate remains operational, JFM added.
Tun Min Latt, founder and managing director of Star Sapphire Group of Companies, who has deep ties to the family of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and was arrested in Bangkok in September last year on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, was also included in the list. Star Sapphire Group of Companies brokered imports of Israeli reconnaissance drones and aircraft parts for the Myanmar Air Force.
Star Sapphire Group of Companies has a Singapore subsidiary that remains active and the group continues working with the Myanmar military, JFM said.
Aung Moe Myint, the founder of the Dynasty Group of Companies, which earned significant profits for the Belarus regime—negotiating deals for arms the Myanmar military uses to slaughter civilians—also made the list.
Despite being sanctioned by other countries, Aung Moe Myint continues to operate a business in Singapore, JFM said.
The others on the list are Khin Phyu Win, who is also known as Kyauk Kyar Shwe (the Burmese spelling of the Chinese name Zhao Jia Shui) founder and director of Shoon group of companies; Jonathan Myo Kyaw Thuang, CEO of KT group; Thein Win Zaw, founder and chairperson of Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies; and investor George Yin Soon.
“The Singaporean government has already committed publicly to stopping the movement of arms to Myanmar, but so far their efforts have fallen short,” JFM said.
A recent report from the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar identified 138 unique suppliers in Singapore that have done US$ 247 million worth of trade with the Myanmar military.
If Singapore’s government stopped all arms supplies to the Myanmar military from its jurisdiction, it would “significantly disrupt” the junta’s ability to commit war crimes, JFM stated.
JFM urged Singapore to introduce sanctions to stop the direct and indirect transfer of arms and dual-use goods and technology to the Myanmar military. It also called for the city state to block the junta’s access to Singapore’s financial system through targeted sanctions, including on junta banks.
It also called for ongoing investigations into Singaporean companies that have supplied arms, and dual-use goods and technology to the Myanmar military to be expedited and made public. More sanctions by other ASEAN countries on the Myanmar military and entities that transact business should be enforced, JFM said.
