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Siam Commercial Bank in Disguised Iranian Jet Fuel Deal
A $26 million contract that described 202,000 barrels of Iranian jet fuel as "South African diesel" and instructed payments to be made to Thai company Tawan-Oil Trading's Siam Commercial Bank account. The cargo was delivered to Yangon, but curiously, the invoice carried jet fuel specifications and set the price at more than half again above the global diesel benchmark. A second contract indicates that Tawan sold about 113,000 barrels delivered by the sanctioned tanker Reef for $15.8 million. Justice For Myanmar says National Energy Prime Aviation Services, which is partly owned by the military-backed government, bought six shipments of this kind. The foreign exchange regulator even promised import papers that would label Reef's cargo “diesel” instead of “jet fuel."
Read more: Reuters (import directive), The Irrawaddy (shipments), Firstpost (satellite images), UA News (trade records)
Suu Kyi Talks to Son After Five-Years
Aung San Suu Kyi has spoken by phone with her son Kim Aris for the first time in more than five years. Calling in by phone to London from her house arrest in Naypyitaw, she sounded strong and began with her asking him if he was looking after himself, Aris said. He said that he thinks that the regime's sudden generosity is little more than a public relations exercise. Suu Kyi has no access to newspapers, radio or television, and Aris said a severe pain in her right hand might be tendonitis. Military doctors give her an examination her every six months, but he said that he doesn’t trust what they say.
Read more: AP (phone call), AP (regime diplomacy), The Guardian (international support), Myanmar Now (Red Cross visit)
Rebel-Held Mines Feed China's Rare Earth Imports
China's rare earth imports increase by almost a quarter during the period from August to September, with Myanmar supplying seven in ten of the more than 5,000 tons that China digested. Satellite images show more than 600 mines in the north, almost all of them operating outside area that the junta controls. Kachin State is home to nearly four-fifths, including sites around Chipwi and Pangwa that were taken over by the Kachin Independence Army from a junta-aligned militia. Nearly 90 more are in Ta'ang National Liberation Army territory. Myanmar produces roughly half the world's heavy rare earths, including two metals that are used in powerful magnets required in phones, electric cars, and even high-tech weapons systems. Regime supporters are now talking up a "rare earth card" that might be played as Washington re-engages with Naypyitaw.
Read more: The Irrawaddy (mine control), The Irrawaddy (imports)
Malaysia Queries Junta Over Returnees Held in Yangon
Malaysia is asking the junta to explain reports that about 300 people it just sent back to Myanmar are being held at a military facility in Yangon. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told parliament that Malaysia's charge d'affaires is being tasked with an investigation of their condition. He was sure to remind everyone that the returns were voluntary (Ed: not sure if that should be in quotes or not, tbh) and were backed by signed consent documents and assurances of safety from the junta. So far, three naval vessels have taken 1,476 returnees to Yangon, and another 3,524 are expected to follow.
Read more: The Star (assurances), ORF (return policy), Free Malaysia Today (detentions)
Junta Bombs Downtown Sittwe
An Arakan Army shell reportedly struck the military's Regional Operations Command in Sittwe, killing more than 10", including two colonels. The unverified account comes from an anonymous official “close to the military.” A military Y-12 aircraft then allegedly bombed Mawleik Ward in the junta-held city center. Local reports say five civilians were killed that strike. MSF recorded at least two deaths and 17 injuries, most at a downtown junction, but did not say who fired on who.
Read more: Narinjara (reported retaliation), ReliefWeb (casualties)
Junta Sets Rice Floor Price Far Below Market Rates
The junta has set a minimum paddy price of 1.35 million kyats per 100 baskets, which sounds okay until you find out that price is substantially lower than the 1.9 million to 3 million kyats farmers say the market is paying. The floor will apply to the current monsoon crop and the next summer harvest, but rather than acting as support, farmers say that they fear brokers will use it to push prices down, knowing indebted growers are unable to be patient. With production costs running about 1.2 million kyats an acre before interest, and yields falling, farmers say the official price would leave them losing up to 300,000 kyats an acre, if they were to accept it.
Read more: The Irrawaddy
India Freezes Accounts in Drug Money Probe
Krishiv Enterprises allegedly sent about 32 tons of caffeine anhydrous to small pharmacies and shops in Mizoram that didn’t have any manufacturing facilities. India's Enforcement Directorate unsurprisingly thinks that the chemical made its way over the border to be used in methamphetamine tablets. Its frozen 1,424 bank accounts in Mizoram and Manipur connected to an alleged money transfer network that was (again, allegedly) paying drug suppliers in Myanmar.
Read more: India Today (raids), The Hitavada (drug trade), Borderlens (Krishiv Enterprises)
Chin Survivor Files First Complaint Under DK War Crimes Law
A Chin woman living in Denmark has filed the first criminal complaint under the country's new universal jurisdiction law. The document names junta commanders including Min Aung Hlaing. She alleges that troops burned 40 homes in her village, deliberately killed civilians and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. The law applies wherever the alleged crimes occurred, and her supporters are pressing Danish police to register the case and start a formal investigation.
Read more: The Irrawaddy (humanitarian toll), DVB (complaint), Courthouse News (Gambia case)
Internet Freedom Score Again Ranks Last
The regime is blocking communications in 140 of 358 monitored townships, most of them afflicted by fighting. Freedom House has given the country a score of 9 out of 100 for “internet freedom” for the third year in a row. It’s the world's lowest score. In Myanmar today, VPN use is a crime, and authorities have locked up thousands of people for their online criticism since the coup in 2021.
Read more: The Irrawaddy
That's all for this week, thanks for reading. Your voice matters to us. Feel we're missing something? Have additional sources to suggest? Don't hold back- hit reply and tell us what you think.
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