Fashion giant H&M suspends orders in Myanmar in response to post-coup violence

Police and military have killed more than 50 people to quell daily demonstrations and strikes against a February 1 military coup

H&M has about 45 direct suppliers in Myanmar, it said on its website, and has sourced in the country for seven years

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Myanmar has been riven by clashes between protesters and security forces. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:47pm, 8 Mar 2021Updated: 9:50pm, 8 Mar 2021

Sweden’s H&M, the world’s second-biggest fashion retailer, said on Monday it was shocked by the use of deadly force against protesters in Myanmar and that it had paused placing orders in the country.

Police and military have killed more than 50 people to quell daily demonstrations and strikes against a February 1 military coup, according to the United Nations last week.

H&M has around 45 direct suppliers in Myanmar, it said on its website, and has sourced in the country for seven years.

“Although we refrain from taking any immediate action regarding our long-term presence in the country, we have at this point paused placing new orders with our suppliers,” Serkan Tanka, Country Manager Myanmar, said in an email.

“This is due to practical difficulties and an unpredictable situation limiting our ability to operate in the country, including challenges related to manufacturing and infrastructure, raw material imports and transport of finished goods.”

Two protesters were killed by gunshot wounds to the head in Myanmar on Monday, witnesses said, while shops, factories and banks were closed in the main city Yangon as part of the uprising against the country’s military rulers.