Take Action

Stop Insurance companies enabling abuses in Burma

Please write to the companies listed below and tell them to stop insuring investment and trade in Burma which contributes to human rights abuses and environmental destruction. Without insurance, companies can’t operate in Burma.

You can also write to the managers of the Lloyd’s market directly on our automated form here.

Leaked Wikileaks cables revealed how thanks to this insurance campaign, Tay Za, one of the top business cronies in Burma who helped the military buy weapons, suffered big financial problems because his companies lost their insurance. This campaign directly hurts the corrupt government and its business cronies.

TAKE ACTION

Please take a moment and write, fax or email the companies listed below. Please let us have a copy of any replies you receive.

SAMPLE LETTER

Here is a sample letter you may wish to use to send to the companies mentioned below. Please do send us any replies you receive.

Dear Sir or Madam,

13 of the top 30 insurance companies, including AIG, Munich Re and Aon, have taken the ethical step of not providing insurance services to companies in Burma, but yours hasn’t.

They have done so because of ethical concerns about the links between investment and human rights and environmental abuses in Burma.

Burma is still ruled by a military backed government which despite making some small political changes, has actually increased human rights abuses in the past year. These abuses include possible war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The military backed government and its business cronies dominate the economy of Burma. They are corrupt, exploiting Burma’s natural resources to enrich the elite, while ordinary Burmese people live in poverty.

Without an accountable government and the rule of law it is impossible for investors in large scale projects in Burma to ensure that they are not linked with human rights abuses, environmental destruction, and/or financing a corrupt and brutal government.

Please make a commitment not to provide insurance to companies investing in large-scale projects in Burma.

Yours faithfully

THE INSURANCE DIRTY LIST

Lloyd’s of London.
Lloyd’s, located at the heart of the City of London, describes itself as,  “the world’s leading, specialist insurance market.” According to the Burmese Ministry of Finance and Revenue, Lloyd’s provides reinsurance to Myanmar Insurance. Lloyd’s syndicates (Lloyd’s terminology for their member companies that sell insurance) have also sold insurance to a regime owned airline.  Lloyd’s admitted in April 2008 that some shipping and aviation reinsurance for companies in Burma goes through Lloyd’s. As a consequence of the actions of their syndicates Lloyd’s were placed on our “2005 Dirty List”. Later that year Lloyd’s stated that they were not able to compel their members to end their involvement in Burma and claimed that it would be “against competition law for members to collectively decide not to operate in Burma”.
 
Pending investigations of these claims Lloyd’s were removed from the Dirty List. Our investigations failed to identify any UK law or act to substantiate Lloyd’s’ claims. Lloyd’s conceded in July 2008 that “Competition Law is not relevant in this case”. When asked to make a statement to their syndicates alerting them to the human rights concerns associated with selling insurance to companies in Burma Lloyd’s refused, instead issuing the following statement on July 23rd 2008: “Unless there are official UN sanctions in place, Lloyd’s does not instruct the market where it can and cannot write business. Competition Law is not relevant in this case. However, we do not make public comments on the politics or economic policies of national or international bodies.”

Please either email the managers of the Lloyd using this form or send polite messages to:

Address: Lord Levene, Chairman of Lloyd’s Lloyd’s One Lime Street London EC3M 7HA UK

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7327 1000

Email: peter.levene@lloyds.com

enquiries@lloyds.com

louise.shield@lloyds.com

Hannover Re
Hannover Re describes itself as “one of the leading reinsurance groups in the world.” Its website states that it is represented in the Burmese market by its Malaysian subsidiary.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Hannover Rückversicherung AG

P.O. Box 61 03 69

30603 Hannover

Germany

Telephone: +49 / 5 11 / 56 04 - 0

Fax: +49 / 5 11 / 56 04 - 11 88

E-mail: info@hannover-re.com

Catlin
Catlin describes itself as “an international specialist property and casualty insurer and reinsurer, writing more than 30 classes of business”. It has four “underwriting platforms”: the Catlin Syndicate at Lloyd’s, Catlin Bermuda, Catlin UK and Catlin US. The company has provided insurance services to a regime owned airline.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Catlin Group Limited Head Office

Catlin Bermuda ( Catlin Insurance Company Ltd.)

Cumberland House

6th Floor

1 Victoria Street

Hamilton

Bermuda HM 11

Telephone: +1 441 296 0060

Fax: +1 441 296 6016

Email: catlininfo@catlin.com

Atrium Underwriting
Atrium Underwriting manages two Lloyd’s Syndicates. Atrium has provided insurance services to a regime owned airline. It is owned by the Bermudan company Ariel Re.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Room 790

Lloyd’s

1 Lime Street

London

United Kingdom

EC3M 7DQ

Email: info@atrium-uw.com

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7327 4877

Fax: +44 (0)20 7327 4878

Address:

The Chief Executive

Ariel Reinsurance Limited

P.O. Box HM 1727

Hamilton, HM GX

Bermuda

Telephone: 441.295.5485

Fax: 441.295.4750

Email: info@arielre.com

Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance Co.
Tokio Marine describes itself as Japan’s largest and longest established non-life insurance company. The company’s recently acquired Lloyd’s subsidiary,  Kiln, has provided insurance to a regime owned airline. Tokio Marine company also maintains a representative office in Burma.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Tokio Marine Global Ltd

2 Minster Court

London EC3R 7BB

Email: enquiries@tokiomarineglobal.com

info@tokiomarine.co.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7397 4000

Fax: +44 (0)20 7397 4040

Address:

The Chief Executive

Tokio Marine Nichido Building Shinkan

1-2-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0005, Japan

Email: ir@tokiomarinehd.com

Sompo Japan
Sompo Japan is one of the three largest non-life Japanese insurers. The company admits to operating a “Liason office” in Burma to “provide insurance information to customers”. Sompo Japan has offices across the world, including in the UK. Evidence indicates the company has applied to form a joint venture with regime owned Myanma Insurance.

Address:

The Chief Executive

26-1,Nishi-Shinjuku 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

160-8338, Japan

Email: publicrelations@sompo-japan.co.jp

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance
Mitstui is one of Japan’s largest non-life insurers. Included in its large overseas network is a representative office in Rangoon. Evidence indicates the company has applied to form a joint venture with regime owned Myanma Insurance.

Address:

The Chief Executive

27-2,shinkawa 2-Chome

Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8252,Japan

TEL:81-3-3297-1111

Email: msi_ir@ms-ins.net

QBE
QBE describes itself as “Australia’s largest international general insurance and reinsurance group, and one of the top 25 insurers and reinsurers worldwide”. Company websites state it has two correspondent offices in Burma.

Address:

Frank O’Halloran

Level 2, 82 Pitt Street

Sydney NSW 2000

Australia

Tel: 61 2 9375 4444

Fax: 61 2 9235 3166

Email: corporate@qbe.com

ACE
ACE is a global insurance and reinsurance company based in Bermuda. Its subsidiary, Ace Marine, offers insurance for Burma through its London office.

Address:

The Chief Executive

ACE European Group

The ACE Building

100 Leadenhall Street

London EC3A 3BP

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 20 7173 7000

Fax: +44 20 7173 7800

Email: lee.simpson@ace-ina.com

andrew.atkin@ace-ina.com

Labuan Re
Labuan Re headquartered in Malaysia describes itself as “an international reinsurer”. The company lists Burma as one of its “overseas markets”.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Labuan Re

Level 4 ( B ), Main Office Tower, Financial Park Labuan, Jln Merdeka, 87000 Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia

Tel : 6087 452 886/887/889, Fax : 6087 425 070,

E-mail : headoff@labuanre.com.my kctan@labuanre.com.my majid@labuanre.com.my

OCBC Bank
OCBC is Singapore’s longest established bank, and is today one of Asia’s leading financial services groups. Its subsidiary, Great Eastern Holdings,  describes itself as the “leading insurer in Singapore”, it has stated it provides insurance services to Singapore owned companies in Burma. Insurance and reinsurance is vital to the Burmese regime, find out more in our report Insuring Repression.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited

65 Chulia Street #08-00

OCBC Centre

Singapore 049513

Fax: +65 6535 7477

Email: corpcomms@ocbc.com.sg

Pana Harrison
Pana Harrison is a Singaporean based insurance broker. It lists Burma as part of its network. Our sources indicate the company is active in the aviation sector, providing insurance services for regime owned airlines.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Pana Harrison

371 BEACH ROAD #03-01/02

KEYPOINT

Singapore 199597

Telephone: +65 6294 8966

Fax: +65 6298 1500

Email: mktg@panaharrison.com

Target Insurance Broker
Target is a Singaporean broker which works in the Lloyd’s, Australian and European markets. It also provides insurance brokerage services for companies in Burma.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Target Insurance Brokers

80 Marine Parade #10-01 Parkway Parade Singapore 449269

Telephone: +65 6345 5151

Fax: +65 6447 1806

Email: philipphang@targetbrokers.com

Arab Insurance Group (ARIG)
ARIG is the “largest reinsurance company in the Middle east and North Africa”. It is part owned by the governments of the United Arab Emirates, Libya and Kuwait. The company’s website states that its Singapore branch is responsible for activities in Burma.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Arab Insurance Group (ARIG)

Arig House

Building 131, Road 1702

Diplomatic Area 317

Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Postal Address

P.O. Box 26992

Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain

Telephone: +973 1754 4444

Fax: +973 1753 1155

Email: info@arig.com.bh

Al Wasl
Al Wasl is a Dubai based (re)insurance reinsurance broker. The company’s website states that its Bangladesh offices is responsible for marketing the companies operations in Burma.

Address:

The Chief Executive

Al Wasl

Post office Box No 76129

Dubai

United Arab Emirates.

Office No. G-8, Sultan Building

Opposite Dubai Muncipality,Karama, Bur Dubai, Dubai

Telephone: +971 4 3571086

Fax: +971 4 3571087

Email: contact@al-wasl.com