Corruption
Individual Documents
Sub-title:
Military conglomerate holds majority stake in Ever Flow River port project while its board members regulate ports, customs
Description:
"A new listing on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) Thursday morning risks further funding public corruption and supporting the military’s “ongoing war crimes,” experts and rights group warn.
On Thursday, Ever Flow River Group (EFRG) will become the YSX’s sixth publicly-listed company.
EFRG operates a joint venture company with Lann Pyi Marine - a subsidiary of the military conglomerate Myanma Economic Holdings (MEHL) - called Hlaing Inland Terminal and Logistics (HITLC).
HITLC is building a $43m inland port in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar township between the Aung Zeya and Shwe Pyi Thar bridges. The site is still under construction and not generating income for EFRG or its partners yet, but capital raised at the exchange may speed up that process. EFRG is financing the project and will hold 49% equity in HITLC while Lann Pyi Marine is providing land for 51% equity.
According to disclosure documents EFRG provided to YSX, the project will include customs clearance and customs-bonded facilities.
Retired brigadier-general and MEHL director Kyaw Htin is the director general of Myanmar’s customs department and retired major Ni Aung, another MEHL director, is the managing director of the Myanma Port Authority, the federal port regulatory body.
Kyaw Htin and Ni Aung “will be directly profiting from their public positions through MEHL’s business” with EFRG, the rights group Justice for Myanmar said in a statement Monday. “The inclusion of a customs-bonded warehouse, customs clearance and port services within the project adds heightened corruption risk.”..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Now" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-05-28
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-28
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Corruption, The Military's political role
Language:
more
Sub-title:
Lei Lei Maw’s family home in Thayet Chaung will also be seized by the state
Description:
"A court handed a 30-year prison sentence on Friday to the former chief minister of Tanintharyi region, more than a year after she was arrested on bribery and corruption charges.
Lei Lei Maw sold her house to the Global Grand Services (GGS) company for 200m kyat, well above its market value, and gave the firm several public contracts in return, the Anti-Corruption Commission said.
She also gave the F-22 Sunny Construction company 400m kyat, roughly $263,000, just to remove some bushes outside of Dawei airport. She did so without calling a tender or holding a cabinet meeting.
The Tanintharyi Region Court also sentenced three former GGS company officials to between five and ten years in prison on Friday. They are managing director Thein Htwe, company director Aung Myat and manager Thura Ohn.
Lei Lei Maw was hit with four charges under section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law in March last year after a one-month probe into her conduct.
They also found that she abused her power by allocating almost two billion kyat in public money to the Road Management Department without following official procedures..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Now" (Myanmar)
Date of publication:
2020-05-22
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-23
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
more
Sub-title:
NLD government has prioritized graft-busting but the business-minded military is still immune
Description:
"Myanmar was widely viewed as one of the most opaque and mismanaged countries in the world throughout decades of abusive and unaccountable military rule.
That was supposed to change with the transition to democracy in 2015, with Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party resoundingly voted into power on a promise of change and reform.
Now, as Myanmar enters a new election season pitting her NLD against the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), the NLD’s anti-corruption record is expected to feature on the campaign trail. Certain international measures are on the NLD’s side. Global graft watchdog Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index saw Myanmar move up two positions, from 132nd in 2018 to 130th out of 180 ranked countries in 2019.
That ranking has slowly but steadily improved since Suu Kyi assumed electoral power in 2016, when Myanmar ranked 136th on the index. That’s quantifiable international recognition of her government’s anti-graft battle, a campaign of new laws, high-profile arrests and sackings, and improved collaboration on graft issues with the private sector..."
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication:
2020-02-11
Date of entry/update:
2020-02-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
About Aung San Suu Kyi, Corruption, Politics, Government and Governance - Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Burma/Myanmar's political parties
Language:
more
Description:
"Today Myanmar celebrated International Anti-Corruption Day in Nay Pyi Taw. The Anti-Corruption Commission, UNODC and UNDP joined forces to mark the day and encourage the public to get involved in anti-corruption efforts. The central theme of the day's event was that, by working together across government, the private sector, and the community at large, we can make real progress in curbing corruption.
The event was opened with speeches by H.E. U Aung Kyi, Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr. Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and Mr. Peter Bachelor, UNDP Country Director for Myanmar.
Mr. Douglas said: "Corruption anywhere is a pervasive and harmful force: it breaks the trust of the people in our public institutions, and makes any improvement in governance or the rule of law that much harder to achieve. It shrinks public revenue, and stifles efforts to improve public welfare - especially the welfare of the most vulnerable, who measure the costs of corruption in missing healthcare services, in missing educational services, in missing public officials whom they can trust. Ultimately, corruption lines the pockets of those who abuse the trust of the public they serve, and takes food off the table of those who will miss it most."
Mr. Douglas went on to note the efforts made in Myanmar to curb corruption, saying "UNODC supports the government in enhancing the institutional capacity to prevent, raise awareness of, detect, investigate, prosecute, and convict cases of corruption. This includes extensive capacity development activities for anti-corruption institutions, including the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Financial Crime Division of the Myanmar Police Force, the Union Attorney General's Office, and the Supreme Court."
H.E. Mr. Kyi noted the progress that has been made through Myanmar's adoption of the UN Convention Against Corruption, and the enactment of multiple laws and policies aimed at reducing corruption within the country. He went on to point out the ongoing work to address corruption, noting that "a whole-of-government response and a cohesive national anti-corruption strategy are essential. Our continued development and implementation of major programmes that we have initiated with the support of our international partners are key to that effort."
A highlight of the day was the awarding of prizes to the winners of article and essay competitions conducted by the Anti-Corruption Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Education at a high school in Nay Pyi Taw on 20 November for a total of 40 students. Half of the students wrote articles titled "No Corruption for a Prosperous Nation" while the other half wrote essays titled "United Against Corruption". For each competition, a first prize, second prize, third prize and three honorable mentions were awarded by the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission..."
Source/publisher:
UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Date of publication:
2017-12-08
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-24
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
UNODC Burma/Myanmar, Corruption
Language:
English
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Description:
"Recently, two different assessments have come out regarding anti-corruption efforts and their successes in Myanmar. The President U Win Myint, in his new year speech delivered on 17 April, stated that “if we were to show visible and tangible results you would see our successes to a certain extent in the area of preventing and combatting corruption, a chronic disease which has taken deep roots for many administrations. Our Union Government has been taking action against corruption in accordance with the law without favoring anyone with only the interest of the people and the country in our minds.”
On the other hand, the head of the Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) U Aung Kyi declared in his April 29th annual report to the Union Parliament that corruption remains rampant in the country, despite the intense efforts. He based this claim on the findings of a nationwide survey, conducted by an independent party, and underlined the key factors contributing to a culture of corruption: self-interest, resistance to change, ineffective measures, and poor rule of law. Both the ACC’s report to the parliament and the survey report are not yet publicly available.
The Challenges of Defining and Measuring Corruption and Its Impacts
In the literature on corruption, there is no consensus regarding the term’s definition. Different people have different perceptions of corruption and there is no single way to define it. However, it is most commonly defined as the use of public power and office to private ends, and it can take various forms such as bribery, extortion, influence, fraud, embezzlement, payoffs for political favors, and preferential access to services. According to Myanmar’s Anti-Corruption Law, enacted in 2013, “corruption” refers to “the misuse of his post by the competent authority for making to act something [sic] or to avoid the lawful act or to give the legal right to someone or to prohibit the legal right incorrectly, or giving, accepting, obtaining, attempt to obtain, proposal, promise or discussion by any means the corrupt [sic] from the relevant person for him, or any other person, or organization directly or indirectly.”
The best indicator of corruption so far is the level of public sector corruption perceived by businesspeople, analysts and experts in countries around the world, though this remains open to criticism. The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) developed by Transparency International has been the most-used indicator of corruption levels across the world. It is a composite index based on 13 independent surveys specializing in governance and business climate. The index provides extensive data on perceptions of corruption within countries, and ranks them according to how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be. A country is scored on a scale of 0 (most corrupt) to 100 (least corrupt)..."
Zaw Myat Lin
Source/publisher:
TEACIRCLEOXFORD
Date of publication:
2019-06-05
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Corruption
Language:
English
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Sub-title:
The top-level conspiracy behind the global trade in Myanmar’s stolen teak
Description:
"The forests of Myanmar are defined by their monetary value and have been part of the military and economic elites’ profits and, in some cases, survival for decades. The entire legal state forestry and timber trade sectors are riddled with corruption.
Current laws seem to seek the criminalisation of local people and the Government is undermining the communities’ reliance on resources while at the same time introducing a centralised system of management they are unable to implement.
Myanmar’s government presents the teak trade as being wholly legal and sustainable, produced in compliance with the rule of law. This is simply not the case.
A two-year undercover investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) into a near-mythic ‘Burmese teak kingpin’ who conspired with and bribed the most senior military and government officials in Myanmar has revealed how he was able to establish a system of fraudulent trade. This was run in parallel to, and within, the official legal trade administered by the Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) – a state-owned company with a monopoly on all logging and timber trade in the country.
Diverse and extensive, Myanmar’s forests form part of the ‘Indo-Burma Hotspot’, one of the world’s most important biodiversity areas, featuring a huge range of endemic flora and fauna. More than 200 globally threatened species live in Myanmar’s forests, including elephants, tigers, sun bears and the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey.
These forests are an important source of food and fuel for Myanmar’s people, 70 per cent of whom live in rural areas where forests underpin basic livelihoods.
Teak’s combination of properties – a range of beautiful golden-to-red hues on tight, straight grains, Category 1 durability classification, termite, water and insect resistance and its excellent machinability and weathering properties – have earned it the moniker of ‘King of Woods’.
In recent decades Myanmar has suffered a deforestation crisis.
Timber extraction is considered the main driver of forest degradation inside the country’s forest reserve areas. Overharvesting has been “long term and systematic, persisting until forests are exhausted”. Nominally legal forestry operations by MTE and its subcontractors – which prioritised revenue generation – have not allowed forests to recover between cycles of harvesting. Illegal logging is also a major contributor to forest loss in Myanmar, with EIA investigations in 2014/15 revealing how Myanmar’s military and ethnic armed organisations both profit from the massive illegal timber trade.
Demand for Myanmar teak in Western markets is largely driven by the furniture and boat-building sectors, particularly the yacht and superyacht decking market which seek the highest grades of Myanmar teak. The biggest direct markets for Myanmar teak are China, India and Thailand, which between them imported a staggering 4.04 million m3 of teak logs and sawn timber direct from Myanmar between 2007-17, worth $2.79 billion..."
Source/publisher:
Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
Date of publication:
2019-01-31
Date of entry/update:
2019-02-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Deforestation, Corruption
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
1.71 MB
Local URL:
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Description:
"Myanmar is located in Band F, which indicates critical corruption risk in its national defence and security establishments. No branch of the state - the legislative, executive, or judicial branches - may exercise oversight over the military. Article 20 of the 2008 constitution states, ?The Defence Services has the right to independently administer ... all affairs of the armed forces.” In practice, Myanmar has two parallel power structures: the civil government and the military, with the latter also having significant influence in the former. There is a complete lack of transparency regarding military activities and no public disclosure of any key information on defence spending, strategy, or procurement plans - precluding any opportunities for civilian oversight...".....Under Political, Financial, Personnel, Operational and Procurement, you will find a number of questions and answers headed: COMMENTS; SOURCES; RESEARCHER AND PEER REVIEWERS.
Source/publisher:
Transparency International - Defence and Security
Date of publication:
2015-11-00
Date of entry/update:
2016-01-13
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
"This Situation Update describes events and issues occurring in Bu Tho and Dwe Lo townships, Hpapun District between April 2014 and February 2015, including the embezzlement of public funds, child labour, and fraudulent gambling.
Hpapun District administrator U Aung Than Zaw oversaw the construction of bridges in Bu Tho Township, paid for with government funds. He spent only 14,400,000 kyat (US $12,933.36) of the allotted 30,000,000 kyat (US $26,944.50) on actual bridge construction. The remaining 15,600,000 kyat (US $14,011.14) he used to fund his own business.
Two cases of child labour occurred in Hpapun District: one in S--- village, Ma Htaw village tract, Dwe Lo Township; and one in G--- village, Meh Klaw village tract, Bu Tho Township. The two underage workers were employed in construction work and the abuse occurred due to a lack of awareness regarding child labour rights.
On September 27th 2014, casino owner U Myint was arrested and taken into custody by Hpapun Township police for cheating people out of their money at the casino..."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Date of publication:
2015-09-11
Date of entry/update:
2015-09-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
601.32 KB
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Description:
"Signs of corruption are mounting in Myanmar, a crisis of confidence that threatens to derail President Thein Sein?s ambitious reform program. Whether Thein Sein is willing to push through top-level prosecutions, including at the tainted telecommunications ministry, could make or break the country?s transition from military to democratic rule.
Underscoring decades of unaccountable military rule, Myanmar has consistently ranked near the top of Transparency International?s global corruption rankings. Now, with financial reforms and economic liberalization measures promising to lure big new foreign investments and boost asset prices across the
economy, officials are increasingly leveraging their positions for personal gain, according to government insiders situated at the president?s office..."
Larry Jagan
Source/publisher:
"Asia Times Online"
Date of publication:
2013-04-05
Date of entry/update:
2014-05-30
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Bribery is a part of everyday life for Burma?s press... "From the outside, the three-story building at number six is as nondescript as the other houses and businesses on Wingabar Road just outside downtown Rangoon. Inside, however, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division headquarters stands out from the majority of the capital?s Spartan offices and government departments because of its abundant furniture and electrical appliances.
?The PSRD office is lavishly decorated, even the toilet,” said one regular visitor, a journalist who requested anonymity.
A closer look at the DVD players, televisions, stereos and furniture that fill the building reveals small identification tags, each with the name of a leading Burma publication. The labels allow Burma?s censorship board to keep track of the journals that have paid up in full—each appliance and piece of furniture is a mandatory bribe..."
Clive Parker
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 13, No. 8
Date of publication:
2005-08-17
Date of entry/update:
2010-09-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Freedom of opinion and expression: - the situation in Burma/Myanmar - reports, analyses, recommendations, Corruption
Language:
English
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Description:
Burma?s military regime is busy tidying up its house with a ?clean government? program to fight corruption and achieve good governance. It?s certainly a welcome initiative—provided it?s sincere.
Editorial
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 15, No. 3
Date of publication:
2007-03-00
Date of entry/update:
2008-05-04
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Corruption
Language:
English
more
Description:
" Burma has come to resemble the former Soviet regime, and we are presently witnessing the same economic and social chaos. The Burmese junta continues to build up its military, despite agreeing to peace with 17 ethnic armed groups. Needless infrastructure projects have been launched one after another, while people in the streets are saying: "Who needs these roads and dams? You can?t eat them or buy food for us."...
It seems from the regime?s perspective that the nation?s economic and social problems can be solved by pampering white elephants in their elaborately decorated stables at Min Dharma Hill..."
Danu Maung
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Commentary Archive
Date of publication:
2002-12-26
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
more
Description:
Burma remains one of the poorest countries in the world. But over the recent years, one cannot ignore the military government building more golf courses throughout the country.
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 5. No. 4-5
Date of publication:
1997-08-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Corruption
Language:
English
more
Description:
Corruption serves as one of the major forces of distortion in Burma?s economy as well as a means for Burmese people to meet the high costs of living. It also serves as a way for the "big people" of Burma to enrich themselves.
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy", Vol. 8. No. 4-5
Date of publication:
2000-04-00
Date of entry/update:
2003-06-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Corruption
Language:
English
more