Thales in Myanmar: Advanced detection, delayed accountability ACAT-France, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, FIDH, Info Birmanie, and Justice For Myanmar, denounce Thales's exports of Coast Watcher radar systems to the Myanmar junta, in disregard of European restrictive measures. We call for an end to these exports and to the maintenance of previously exported equipment, as well as for the French government, its European partners and parliamentarians to take action to ensure the effective and concrete implementation of European sanctions. Myanmar has been ruled by a military junta for decades, accused of numerous human rights violations against the country’s ethnic minorities and of genocide against the Rohingya, including during the period of political opening from 2013 to 2021. Following the coup on 1 February 2021, the army is at war against its own people. The European Union’s restrictive measures have evolved in line with the political situation in Myanmar but have never been fully lifted. The Myanmar junta has been subject to European sanctions since the 1990s1, which prohibit the export of arms, military and auxiliary equipment, as well as their maintenance. The investigation published by Disclose and Info Birmanie on 17 May 2026: “Thales supplied surveillance radars to the Burmese army as Rohingya were being slaughtered”, reports on the direct sale of maritime surveillance radars between Thales – in which the French state is a shareholder – and the Burmese junta between 2017 and 2020, totalling 16 million euros. However shocking these revelations may be from an ethical and legal standpoint, they are part of a long-standing relationship between Thales and the Myanmar junta. Since 2015, the Dutch organisation Stop Wapenhandel (Stop the Arms Trade) has been denouncing the sale of RAWL-02 radar systems by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). The system is based on technology that Thales sold to BEL2, an Indian company with which Thales had set up a joint venture, BEL-Thales Systems Limited (BTSL). The Dutch Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation were subsequently questioned by an MP and stated that the export licence did not permit BEL to re-export licensed radars without authorisation, pointing out that the absence of a requirement for prior authorisation in the event of re-export constituted a breach of contract.3 1 Common position defined by the Council on the basis of Article J.2 of the Treaty on European Union, on Burma/Myanmar (96/635/CFSP) | European Union law (1996, 28 October) 2 Despite military embargo, India sells Dutch radar technology to Myanmar | Stop Wapenhandel. (2015, 6 Jully) 3 Kamervragen (Aanhangsel) 2015-2016, nr. 79 | Overheid.nl > Officiële bekendmakingen (2015, 22 September)