Updated Boycott List: Burmese Military Companies: Products and Brands

Updated Boycott List: Burmese Military Companies: Products and Brands

Burma Campaign UK has released an updated version of the Boycott List, which includes a list of products, brands and services owned or controlled by the Burmese military or military business conglomerates. A total of 16 new products and businesses have been added to the Boycott List.

The Boycott List aims to enable embassies, aid groups, UN bodies or other international institutions to refrain from buying goods and services that are owned by the Burmese military to earn revenue. Military businesses continue to play an important role in the Burmese military’s financial operations and are used to support military activities and other human rights abuses throughout the country.

The Boycott List was first published in 2020 and is a popular tool for those wanting to make sure their purchase dollars don’t finance the military. The boycott of military goods was one of the first and most common actions of public opposition in Burma following the attempted military coup in February 2021.

The updated list includes products and services connected with military conglomerates like Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), Myanmar War Veterans Organisation and other similar military-controlled organisations. The companies listed are from various industries such as banking, telecoms, transport, tourism, food and beverages, media, manufacturing, mining, construction and real estate.

The new list includes military-owned brands and services such as Yangon Amber Beer, Keen Beer, Shwe Phee Oo Black Tea, Origin Fertility Center, Moe Kaung Treasure Maternal and Child Hospital, Padonmar detergent powder, laundry and bathing soap, Dagon Beverages, Myawaddy Trading, Myawaddy Tours and Travel, and numerous other products and companies which continue to generate income for the Burmese military.

Minn Tent Bo, Advocacy Officer at Burma Campaign UK, said: “Every time a military-owned product is bought, money goes towards the Burmese military. The military still carries out airstrikes every day, including on schools and hospitals, arresting people at will, torturing them and committing other serious human rights abuses. We ask governments, embassies, international organisations and international non-governmental organisations to check the Boycott List and make sure they are not unknowingly supporting the military.”

Burma Campaign UK emphasises that the Boycott List does not contain all military related companies, or crony businesses working with the military. Rather, it has a singular emphasis on goods, brands and services that they are owned by the Burmese military. The additions are based on newly identified products created by military-owned companies, as well as new information concerning existing products. The list will be updated as and when further information is collected.

As demand grows for international action on restricting the Burmese military’s access to arms, aviation fuel and foreign currency, Burma Campaign UK believes that avoiding military-owned products remains a practical and effective action that individuals and organisations can take in solidarity with the people of Burma.

The updated Boycott List can be downloaded here.