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Apr. 20, 2021, Myanmar: Justice For Myanmar welcomes the announcement of Boku, parent company of direct carrier billing provider Fortumo, confirming to Äripäev that Fortumo has ended its business with Mytel, a mobile operated part-owned by military conglomerate Myanmar Economic Corporation. Boku, based in the USA, is listed on AIM of the London Stock Exchange, the market for small and medium companies. Fortumo is based in Estonia, and announced a partnership with Mytel in August 2020, exposed in Justice For Myanmar’s Nodes of Corruption report.
Following the Myanmar military’s brutal and illegal military coup, Äripäev reported on Fortumo’s business with Mytel, which the company’s CEO Martin Koppel attempted to defend in a total disregard for Fortumo’s human rights responsibilities. He told Äripäev that he does not look up the shareholders of mobile operators he does business with and expressed the view that it is common for mobile operators in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America to be owned by the military. Following local media reports, Fortumo filed complaints against Äripäev, Delfi and Postimees at the Estonian Press Council for “distorted and misleading” reporting in coverage of Fortumo’s business with the Myanmar military-owned company.
Yadanar Maung, Justice For Myanmar spokesperson says: “Justice For Myanmar welcomes Boku’s belated announcement to end its business with the Myanmar military, a criminal enterprise that is committing crimes against humanity, deliberately killing hundreds and torturing thousands. Fortumo should never have entered into business with a Myanmar military-owned company, against the recommendations of the UN Fact-Finding Mission and following the 2017 crime of genocide against the Rohingya. We condemn Fortumo’s harassment of Estonian media for covering their indefensible business ties with our killers and call on Fortumo to immediately withdraw the complaints. We call all other companies that remain in business with the Myanmar military to cut ties.”
Note to editors
Justice For Myanmar, a group of covert activists campaigning for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar, is calling for an end to military business and for federal democracy and a sustainable peace.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Yadanar Maung
Email: media@justiceformyanmar.org
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