Lobbyists will be given $ 2 million to ‘convince’ Myanmar’s coup

WASHINGTON – An Israeli-Canadian lobbyist hired by the Myanmar junta will be paid $ 2 million to help the United States and other countries “explain the actual status” of an army coup, documents show US government Were filed.

More than 60 protesters have been killed and 1,900 people arrested since 1 February, when Myanmar generals seized power and detained civilian leaders, including state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ari Ben-Menashe and his firm, Dickens & Madson, will represent the military government of Canada, Washington and Myanmar and international bodies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Russia, as well as the United Nations, according to a consultation agreement.

The Montreal-based firm will “assist in the implementation and execution of policies for the beneficial development of the Republic of Myanmar and to help explain the real situation in the country”, read the agreement and submitted to Justice on Monday. Department as part of compliance with the American Foreign Agents Registration Act.

A spokesman for the Myanmar military government did not respond to Reuters’ comment.

Ben-Menshe’s client portfolio – which includes the late Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe – has previously attracted attention. By working with Myanmar’s military, legal experts say it violates US sanctions imposed on top generals.

Ari Ben-Menashe and his firm, Dickens & Madson, will represent the military government of Canada, Washington and Myanmar and international bodies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Russia, as well as the United Nations, according to a consultation agreement.
Ari Ben-Menashe and his firm, Dickens & Madson, will represent the military government of Canada, Washington and Myanmar and international bodies such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Russia, as well as the United Nations, according to a consultation agreement.
Reuters

Ben-Menshe told Reuters on Saturday that his job was to convince Washington that Myanmar’s generals wanted to move closer to the West and away from China. They said they want to reorganize the Rohingya Muslims who survived the 2017 attack, for which the United Nations accused the military of monitoring the massacre.

“It is very admirable that he can convince the United States that he is proposing,” said John Shifton, director of Asia Advocacy for Human Rights Watch.

Documents submitted by Ben-Menshe show that the agreement was reached with Junta’s defense minister, General Maia Tun Oo, and that the government would pay the firm $ 2 million.

Legal trouble

The protesters held placards with the image of Aung San Suu Kyi on 15 February 2021 during a military coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar.
Ben-Menshe’s client portfolio – which includes the late Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe – has previously attracted attention. By working with Myanmar’s military, legal experts say it violates US sanctions imposed on top generals.
Reuters

Ben-Menashe has sparked controversies for over four decades since he played a Congressional hearing on the Reagan-era Iran scandal as an October surprise, but questions were raised over his credibility.

Recently, he lobbied Mugabe and Sudan’s forces, reflecting the displeasure of human rights campaigners. Ben-Menshe said he is “proud” of the work.

He said, “If we find someone to be blasphemous, unacceptable, we say no.”

Sanctions lawyers and a law enforcement official said his latest role could put him in legal trouble.

Mya Tun Oo and other top generals have been approved by the US Treasury Department and the Canadian government, so the paperwork says the payment will be made “if legally acceptable”.

Ben-Menshe said that he represented Myanmar’s government rather than the general.

Ben-Menshe’s revelations suggest that he is working directly with Maiya Tun Oo and promising to lobby to lift the ban, so he will have difficulty arguing that he does not support an accepted party Has been, said Peter Cusick, a former senior sanctions advisor to the US Treasury.

The US Treasury Department declined to comment.

Ben-Menshe said he received legal advice that he would need a license from the Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and the Canadian government to accept the payment, but would not break the law.

“There is technicality here, but we will leave it to the lawyers and OFAC to deal with it,” he said.

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