Inquiry into Japanese brewer over donations

Japanese beer company Kirin is investigating whether donations intended for charity instead went to Myanmar’s military, which is accused of brutal attacks against Rohingya Muslims.

Amnesty International has urged Japanese authorities to look into donations Kirin’s subsidiary Myanmar Brewery made in September and October.

A televised ceremony for a $US6,000 (£4,520) donation showed the commander of Myanmar’s military.

Tokyo-based Kirin Holdings Co acknowledged it needed to better monitor its donations and said it had halted them in Myanmar until the investigation was finished. It was unclear how long the probe would take.

Seema Joshi, head of business and human rights at Amnesty International, said Japan had a responsibility to make sure companies did not contribute to rights’ abuses.

Kirin has claimed other donations likely did not go to the military.