Burma List 'shames' UK companies

The regime has been accused of systematic abuse of human rights

Rolls-Royce and Lloyd's of London are among 37 global companies which have been added to the Burma Campaign's annual 'Dirty List'.

The revised list of 95 contains companies which the Burma Campaign claims directly or indirectly help finance Burma's military dictatorship.

The Campaign describes the regime as one of the most brutal in the world.

Firms including BAT, P&O, WPP, PwC and Ernst & Young have pulled out of Burma in the past year following pressure.

'Minimal' business

According to the Campaign, Rolls-Royce has a contract to supply and service aircraft engines for at least one Burmese airline.

"We believe foreign policy is a matter for government, not companies," a spokesman for Rolls Royce said.

British companies alone have committed $1.4bn to the country over the past 10 years Burma Campaign Burma investors under scrutiny

"Policy is set through export licensing regulations, and we adhere to those. If we were denied an export licence, we would not trade," he added.

The Campaign claims that Lloyd's of London provides insurance and reinsurance services through its members to companies investing in Burma.

It also insures Burmese companies such as Yangon Airways by working through regime-owned insurers.

A spokesperson for Lloyd's of London said that Lloyd's did a "minimal amount" of business in Burma and that it always complied with international sanctions and international regulatory requirements.

Travel ban

Travel firm Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) was listed for continuing to offer tours to the region.

A spokesperson for the company said that the UK branch no longer includes Burma in its list of holiday destinations.

However, the US branch of A&K has several tours to Burma in its 2004-2005 brochure, according to the Dirty List.

The Burma campaign was founded in 1991 with the aim of establishing the restoration of human rights and democracy in Burma.