Activists report sanctioned Myanmar tycoon’s daughter to Italian authorities

The activist monitoring group Justice for Myanmar called on Friday for the Italian government to investigate Rachel Tayza, the daughter of crony businessman Tay Za, and her involvement in sanctioned businesses. Named Htoo Htwe Tay Za at birth, Rachel Tayza, 27, is the youngest child of Tay Za, 59, who chairs the Htoo Group of Companies (Htoo Group). The Htoo Group is a conglomerate with subsidiary and associated companies in a range of sectors including timber, finance, hotels, and airlines. Reporting Rachel to the authorities in Italy, JFM called for them to investigate Rachel’s role as a shareholder and director of businesses in the Htoo Group—which is subject to sanctions by the European Union (EU)—and “where appropriate, to freeze her assets and to remove her from Italy.” The activist group also sent a dossier to the Rome-based bank Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, where Rachel holds accounts. Financial institutions are required to comply with sanctions, which includes due diligence to avoid business with clients who are subject to them. The government of the United Kingdom has imposed sanctions against the Htoo Group and Tay Za since September 2021. The United States government has imposed sanctions against Tay Za and his two sons—Rachel’s older brothers—since January 2022 and the Htoo Group since March 2022, due to their role as arms suppliers to the Myanmar military. Tay Za has been living in Singapore since the Myanmar military coup of 2021 and subsequent political turmoil in the country. Having originally made his wealth in timber exports, he would later branch into other business sectors and would ultimately become an important supplier of arms and equipment—including Mi17 and MiG-29 aircraft from Russia and Ukraine—to the Myanmar military. The Myanmar military depends heavily on its air power, including indiscriminate airstrikes that have killed hundreds of civilians, to maintain its dominance in the country. Rachel has sought a career as a pop singer, releasing a debut album in 2019 called Kabar (“The World”), which included songs that achieved chart success and led to the production of music videos that garnered millions of views on YouTube. Rachael Tayza with her family during the wedding of one of her brothers in Singapore in January 2024 (Rachael Tayza’s Instagram) She has also been featured as a model in Vogue Italia. She is currently living in Milan, Italy, and until recently was studying at a fashion school there. However, Rachel has still held directorships and shares in business entities under the Htoo Group umbrella according to JFM, including companies formed after the military coup. After imposing sanctions against the Htoo Group, Tay Za, and Rachel’s brothers, the US Treasury Department also designated Rachel for sanctions in January 2023 because of her ongoing connections to the Htoo Group and its subsidiary entities. Myanmar Now attempted to reach Rachel by email to request comment on JFM’s appeal to the Italian authorities, but did not receive a response. JFM spokesperson Yadanar Maung argues that Rachel and her family have enabled war crimes and human rights violations by the Myanmar military through their business, effectively profiting from the blood of Myanmar’s people. “Weak sanctions enforcement by Italian authorities has allowed Rachel Tayza to do business in Italy that funds an illegal and illegitimate military junta,” Yadanar Maung said. She added that the EU and foreign governments need to strengthen enforcement and act strategically, blocking the flow of funds and arms to the junta through a coordinated and comprehensive sanctions regime covering a broad swathe of companies. She also urged the EU and Italy—one of its members—to “stand with the people of Myanmar” in their fight to build an inclusive form of government that “respects human rights and guarantees justice and accountability.” “For three years, the people of Myanmar have courageously resisted the military’s failing attempted coup. Rachel Tayza should be held accountable under EU sanctions, and Italy must ensure that neither she nor other Myanmar cronies can do their bloodstained business on Italian soil,” Yadanar Maung said.

Activists report sanctioned Myanmar tycoon’s daughter to Italian authorities

Rachel Tayza, the adult daughter of a wealthy Myanmar military crony, is sanctioned by the US for holding shares in a conglomerate that profited from supplying arms to the military

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