TOKYO: Kirin Holdings Co said Friday it will end its beer partnership with Myanma Economic Holdings Public Co, the main business arm of the Myanmar military, following the coup it staged this week.
Japanese beer conglomerate Kirin says
an investigation by Deloitte was unable to determine if the company has been
funding the Myanmar military through its joint ownership of domestic beer
companies. Critics say Kirin has been complicit in human rights abuses by
partnering with a Myanmar military-owned company.
Editorial
Japanese beer corporation Kirin has
said that an assessment of its ties with the Myanmar military was
“inconclusive” as to the company’s role in human rights abuses and military
operations.
Kirin has faced major criticisms over its joint ownership of Myanmar
alcohol companies with the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd.
(MEHL). Since 2015, Kirin has held 51% ownership of both Mandalay Brewery
Japan-based Kirin Holdings Company, Ltd. should publish its investigation report on the military-owned Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. (MEHL) and swiftly cut ties with the company, Human Rights Watch said today.