Angshuman Choudhury Profile picture
āœšŸ¾ on Northeast India, Myanmar, identity, geopolitics | from Assam

Jan 18, 2023, 10 tweets

🧵 Quick glance at the #India sections of this detailed & timely report by @SpecialCouncil on the global supply network of the #Myanmar junta's defence production industry. (1/n)

Full report: bit.ly/3XzNbh6

The @SpecialCouncil found that the #Myanmar junta was relying on defence production supplies from #India (among other countries) because of deteriorating quality of Chinese products. This new dynamic creates a major incentive for the supply side. (2/n)

#India-domiciled companies are supplying two types of defence production materials to the #Myanmar military:

1) Spare parts & components for weapons/platforms (fuses, optical accessories, detonators, etc.)
2) Raw materials (iron, copper, high-grade steel, etc.). (3/n)

One India-domiciled company & official vendor for #India's defence ministry, Sandeep Metalcraft, has supplied fuses for 84mm recoilless rifles in 2022. This was first reported by @JusticeMyanmar in July 2022. (4/n)
justiceformyanmar.org/stories/india-…

Per the July 22 JFM report, Sandeep Metalcraft also sold type 447 time mechanical fuses for 84mm artillery, commonly used with Carl Gustaf recoilless rifles to the junta. SAC-M didn't receive any response from Saab on whether this sale violated onward export restrictions. (5/n)

The issue of Indian companies selling European defence tech/components to the #Myanmar military in potential violation of EU embargoes has been lingering on for sometime. Following is another instance from 2015 šŸ‘‡ (6/n)

In 2022, Indian company, Tonbo (based in Bengaluru), exported Ek long-range thermal imaging sights for junta's sniper rifles.

In June 2021, Bharat Electronic Ltd (BEL), a PSU under #India's defence ministry, sold the Trinetra Multi-Purpose Reflex Weapon Sights to junta. (7/n)

#India's Dept of Defence Production (under Ministry of Defence) also shipped fuses to the #Myanmar military.

Between 2019-21, Solar Industries India Ltd sold boosters, detonating caps, igniters, electric detonators to the military next door. (8/n)

While most of what Indian companies are selling to the junta isn't core lethal weapons/platforms, the spares, components & raw materials are used to make lethal weapons at #Myanmar's DDI factories. These weapons are then used to commit serious atrocities on the people. (9/n)

As India's defence prod & export industry balloons rapidly (under Modi gov's 'Make in India' prog), Indian firms, incl. PSUs, will aggressively look for new customers. & the junta will go shopping wherever it is able to. This is a lethal convergence of mutual interests. (10/n)

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