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(Thread) We analyzed a data leak of Myanmar business financials published @DDoSecret.
Our investigation focused on military chief Min Aung Hlaing and his children's business affairs.
Here's what we found out.
https://www.dw.com/en/in-myanmar-military-matters-are-a-lucrative-family-affair/a-57132879
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Our investigation focused on military chief Min Aung Hlaing and his children's business affairs.
Here's what we found out.
https://www.dw.com/en/in-myanmar-military-matters-are-a-lucrative-family-affair/a-57132879
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
In March 2021, Min Aung Hlaing's son Aung Pyae Son and daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon as well as their businesses were targeted with US sanctions.
We found three additional companies run by them which are not on the sanctions list: Pinnacle Asia, Attractive Myanmar, Photo City.
We found three additional companies run by them which are not on the sanctions list: Pinnacle Asia, Attractive Myanmar, Photo City.
Pinnacle Asia builds cell phone towers for MyTel, a military-owned mobile network.
We obtained documents listing a portfolio of 60 Towers and loans by a Myanmar bank for a business deal to built more across Myanmar.
We obtained documents listing a portfolio of 60 Towers and loans by a Myanmar bank for a business deal to built more across Myanmar.
This is interesting because:
1. It's a family business affair. MyTel is one of four internet providers in Myanmar. It's a joint venture between the militaries in Myanmar and Vietnam. The military's chief is her father Min Aung Hlaing.
1. It's a family business affair. MyTel is one of four internet providers in Myanmar. It's a joint venture between the militaries in Myanmar and Vietnam. The military's chief is her father Min Aung Hlaing.
2. It´s possible to track phone records and movements by protesters. @JusticeMyanmar told DW that the dealings supported "the military's other abuses of Mytel, including to build military communications infrastructure, access international technology and to conduct surveillance.”
3. Increasing restrictions on internet access.
The Internet is right now only accessible via fiber optic cable - wireless and mobile internet have been shut down by telecom companies due to an order by the Junta.
Great visualisation @reuters https://graphics.reuters.com/MYANMAR-POLITICS/INTERNET-RESTRICTION/rlgpdbreepo/
The Internet is right now only accessible via fiber optic cable - wireless and mobile internet have been shut down by telecom companies due to an order by the Junta.
Great visualisation @reuters https://graphics.reuters.com/MYANMAR-POLITICS/INTERNET-RESTRICTION/rlgpdbreepo/
At that time the army's chief daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon was registered as director of Pinnacle Asia.
Just a week after the US sanctions against her were imposed, Khin Thiri Thet Mon was removed from the board of directorate.
Just a week after the US sanctions against her were imposed, Khin Thiri Thet Mon was removed from the board of directorate.
Aung Pyae Sone, army's chief son, has not been removed as director from Attractive Myanmar and Photo City.
The first provides business services for around 30 activities - registered at DICA.
The first provides business services for around 30 activities - registered at DICA.
Myanmar´s army controls huge swathes of the economy through two conglomerates named MEHL and MEC - both sanctioned by US and UK. https://twitter.com/NaomiConrad/status/1380444573953097730
People use apps like “May May Nay” (“Go Away”) to identify which businesses have ties to the military to boycott them.
Peaceful protests, a civil disobedience movement, business boycotts - since two months ( #Feb2Coup) people in Myanmar continue resisting the military coup. And “continue until we get democracy,” one protester told us.
The data of Myanmar financials was scraped from the Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) by @donk_enby and made publicly available by @DDoSecret. https://twitter.com/DDoSecret/status/1363502679155224579
Together with @infosquatter we archived and indexed 120k+ registries and 240k+ pdf files and built a database. We searched through our database and analyzed files and company registries of military members of SAC (State Administrative Council) and their immediate family members.
We talked regularly to protesters, journalists and activists to get a better picture of #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar.
“I am still running, shouting and striking in my dreams,” Htay, one protester told us.
“I am still running, shouting and striking in my dreams,” Htay, one protester told us.
For many protesters in Myanmar, sanctions are toothless. “They have been imposed on the junta for many years,” Htay told DW.
They'll keep on hurrying from one safe house to the next, armed with only a burner phone to document the junta’s crackdown-with or without the internet.
They'll keep on hurrying from one safe house to the next, armed with only a burner phone to document the junta’s crackdown-with or without the internet.
Current updates on #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
@FrontierMM and @Myanmar_Now_Eng
Background on:
*MyTel @JusticeMyanmar: https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/stories/how-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-from-mytel-consumers-will-flow-to-military-generals
*Business ties to military crimes @amnesty https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/mehl-military-links-to-global-businesses/
*Economic interest of military @UN_HRC https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/MyanmarFFM/Pages/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary.aspx
@FrontierMM and @Myanmar_Now_Eng Background on:
*MyTel @JusticeMyanmar: https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/stories/how-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-from-mytel-consumers-will-flow-to-military-generals
*Business ties to military crimes @amnesty https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/09/mehl-military-links-to-global-businesses/
*Economic interest of military @UN_HRC https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/MyanmarFFM/Pages/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary.aspx
