After being singled out in June by Human Rights Watch, it is now the turn of Burma Campaign UK to take a jab at Kirin Holdings by launching a new boycott campaign against Kirin Ichiban lager.
Kirin, a Japanese company making alcoholic and soft drinks, food and pharmaceuticals is mostly known in Myanmar for its two joint-venture with
Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), owning Myanmar Brewery, which makes the best selling beer in Myanmar, Myanmar Beer. The other is Mandalay Brewery selling Mandalay Beer.
“Kirin’s joint ventures with the Burmese military means it is helping to fund genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “Doing any form of business with the military is unacceptable.”
Burma Campaign UK is calling for people to boycott Kirin Ichiban, and to use their website to email Kirin and let them know they are joining the boycott. Kirin is the target of activists and NGOs calling for the company to put an end to its partnership in Myanmar for months. It announced that it would investigate and audit its joint-venture back in June this year, but actions are still to emerge out of the audit.
