Singapore is the third largest arms supplier and the financial center for the junta SAC. MPA recounts an interview with an official from the Blood Money Movement, which is a global public campaign – in order to block the arms and money channels to the junta SAC.

Q – Tell us about the activities to block the channels of weapons and money that supports the junta SAC from Singapore.

A – Singapore is the third largest country that sells weapons, weapon and its accessories, fuels for bombardment and technologies to the junta SAC. They get international weapons from Singapore. Raw materials for weapon factories are exported from Singapore. The Singapore Government must stop all money laundering and remittance issues from Singapore’s banking systems for the procurement of weapons and jet fuel. This has been clearly stated in the United Nations report and press conferences. Chollet Derek, the Counselor of the U.S. Department of State also mentioned during his visit that Singapore has a financial influence over the junta SAC and is able to handle it.

Q – What is the current situation with UOB in Singapore no longer doing business with the junta SAC and bans from it?

A – Only UOB banned it. It was not enough. The junta SAC is currently still allowed to use Singapore’s bank financial systems and it is an important pillar for the Military. Singapore is a financial center for the Myanmar Military. The nine Singapore banks (DBS, UOB, OCBC, SMBC, May Bank (Singapore), Mizuho (Yangon branch), CIMB, MUFG and SCB) have more than 4.5 billion in foreign reserves of Myanmar. We must make sure that the junta SAC does not have access to all of this.

The UOB alone is restricted them. It was not enough. The Singapore Government needs to make sure that the illegal junta SAC does not have access to more than 4.5 billion U.S. Dollars in foreign reserve currency (funds), owned only by the legitimate government of Myanmar from the banks in Singapore. It needs to use the provisions of money laundering and implement sanctions as soon as possible.

We request that Singapore block all financial channels for the purchase of weapons and technologies that are currently supporting the terrorist junta SAC – in places like Thantlang, Let Yet Kone, Anangpa, Zee Pin Gyi and Mong Lai Hkyet, our people and children have lost their lives so that there will be no more cases.

Q – What kind of movement is the global mass movement?

A – Singapore has told the media that it has banned the sale of arms to the Myanmar Military, but in fact, behind the scenes, it is the third largest exporter of weapons and allows them to use them. In addition, Singapore is acting as an intermediary agent in arms and money transfers from countries such as Russia and China.

The fact that 138 Singaporean arms companies sold weapons worth up to 254 million US dollars to the junta SAC became clear when the United Nations report came out. In addition, it can be seen in reports released by research groups such as Justice for Myanmar.

“On the world stage, they do not give weapons to the junta SAC. We need to voice out that behind the scenes they are fully benefiting from war crimes while saying prohibited. We must reveal the truth out of these lies. Singapore always says _ they are doing clean business and honorable business investments and spreading the news to the world and being proud of it. I want to ask them – is it the expense of the lives of the children and the blood of the people of Myanmar?”

They already have the power to stop engaging in war crimes, so we’re asking them to stop. Now, the movement to put pressure on the Singapore Government has been expressed in a balanced voice both domestically and internationally and revolutionary organizations are working together as a global movement. This is a movement that is trying to break a support pillar that relies on logistics, airstrikes and military weapons for the operations of the junta SAC.

Q – How important is public participation in the global civil society?

A – When the voice of each individual makes a request to the international government, it is more powerful. Rather than a group of people making a request, it is more likely that the international government will act on the request – from all the people of Myanmar. That is why it is essential for every individual to participate in. Public participation is principal.
The more individuals sign these petitions and the more they voice their voices throughout the campaign, the more effective it will be to actually cut off the flow of weapons from Singapore to the junta SAC. The more the demands of the Myanmar people become louder, the Singapore government from the parliament can’t talk on the world stage in the usual way. They can’t entertain with sweet talk. Singapore must really put an end to the fact that it supports the war crimes of the junta SAC behind the scenes.

In order for these demands to actually happen, the signatures and requests of each individual are the price for the revolution and our revolutionary comrades must return home with less bloodshed. The people who have been forced to flee, all the youth and the adults behind the bars will be able to return home as soon as possible.

Q – What is the rate of public participation in such activities?

A – We are working as an awareness period – How much is the Singapore Government involved in the cases of war crimes committed by the junta SAC and how does it support them? We are working for which individuals demand and make a voice for the quick fall of the junta SAC. Currently, we have received more than 23,000 petition signatures from local and foreign organizations as well as the public themselves to request the Singapore government to send a demand letter. We can observe how much public participation will increase during the campaign period from October 25 to 31. We believe that the public is there to participate even more.

Q – Could you tell me the actual effects of these demands?

A – Of course. It’s very effective. Simultaneously with the armed struggle of PDFs (People’s Defense Forces) and EROs (Ethnic Resistance Organizations) for the fall of power of the junta SAC and the end of the dictatorship, the revolutionary campaign activities must continuously voice their demands.

When we have pressured the governments, parliaments and parliamentarians, on the other hand, diplomatic issues dealing with the criminal gang (the junta SAC), military crimes committed by joint ventures and weapons supply issues have become bars and sanctions.

If these demands did not happen, the Myanmar Military would be able to expand its legitimacy internationally for a long time. The junta SAC seized the power of the State by relying on weapons, but they still cannot control the power. It has been not successful for more than two years. The failure of the coup is also due to the public demands among the ways trying to win the revolution.

Through campaign activities, both hypocritical countries that are cooperating with the junta SAC backstage, as well as the countries that are brazenly supporting them, must be exposed for their complicity in war crimes. When the revolution wins, these countries will be held accountable for the people who lost their lives.

Yes, thank you for your time and responses.