A review of the Mikatis’ business track record shows how reckless Telenor’s sale is.

Lebanon’s M1 Group has transferred control of Telenor Myanmar to the Myanmar military linked Shwe Byain Phyu conglomerate on Thursday, May 12, completing Telenor Group’s sale of the mobile network. M1 Group and Telenor Group must be investigated for breach of sanctions.

M1 Group, owned by the family of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, is set to violate sanctions on Myanmar through their acquisition, activation and transfer of a lawful interception gateway (LIG) as part of their purchase of Telenor Myanmar.

Telenor Group is violating European Union (EU) and Norwegian sanctions on Myanmar by having installed and maintained a Lawful Interception Gateway (LIG), which it is now proceeding to transfer to a military-linked company.

Myanmar crony conglomerate, Shwe Byain Phyu group has multiple business links with the Myanmar military junta and its conglomerates. These include business ties with sanctioned entities and individuals.

694 civil society organisations urge the Norway-based Telenor Group to stop the sale of Telenor Myanmar and to take full responsibility for its users’ data.

There is now a very real likelihood that if the sale is completed, Telenor Myanmar revenue will flow to the junta and finance its atrocity crimes. Justice For Myanmar calls on Norwegian authorities to immediately intervene to terminate the sale.

45 organisations have written to the chair of the board of Telenor Group, calling for the sale of their Myanmar business to be cancelled or paused, and for credible and transparent human rights due diligence.