"THE COMPANIES ENABLING THE MYANMAR MILITARY’S USE OF ATR AIRCRAFT FOR THE TRANSPORT OF TROOPS, ARMS AND RECONNAISSANCE", 29 August 2024

The Myanmar military is relying extensively on French-manufactured Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) aircraft to transport troops, arms and supplies for its combat operations, as it commits war crimes and crimes against humanity with impunity.  

Evidence obtained by Justice For Myanmar – including photographs, budget expenditure documents, contracts for the purchase of aircraft, maintenance, repair and overhaul files, meeting records, public information and details from individuals who have first-hand experience – provides new details into the Myanmar military’s acquisition and use of ATR turboprop aircraft, involving a global network of companies.

Private Myanmar military arms brokers and commercial airlines have transferred ATR aircraft to the military, in some cases hiding the end user in an apparent attempt to evade sanctions. Myanmar, European, US, Israeli and Singaporean companies have also assisted the military through the supply of parts and the provision of maintenance. One Myanmar airline has leased at least two ATR aircraft from the military, providing it with a source of revenue.

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The ATR aircraft currently in the possession of the Myanmar air force are being used in a context in which the military is committing repeated grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law with total impunity. Since February 2021, the junta has used aircraft to conduct indiscriminate attacks on the people of Myanmar, including through the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, killing scores of people and causing large-scale displacement.

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