League Championship side Leeds United "provoked a storm of protest" after announcing a "controversial" end-of-season tour to Myanmar, where the army has been accused of "ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. Campaigners said that the decision by Leeds was "disgraceful." The U.N. said that it "suspects acts of genocide have been inflicted on the Rohingya people" in Myanmar. Leeds said that it will play two matches next month, including one against the Myanmar national team. The club is understood to be "keen to gain a foothold in the fastest-growing country" in southeast Asia. Bradford-based British Rohingya Association General Secretary Nijam Mohammed called on Leeds to change its decision. He said, "My people have been slaughtered and raped, hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground. Leeds United is going to play football on ground soaked in the blood of innocent Rohingya women and children" (LONDON TIMES, 4/24). In London, James Ducker reported the Foreign & Commonwealth Office advises against "all non-essential travel to four separate areas of Myanmar." Although Leeds will not be playing in any of those regions, "political unrest is rife" and the FCO warns of the threat of terrorist attacks while the government classes Myanmar as "having a risk of Zika virus transmission." Leeds, which advised fans to "wait for further advice" before arranging travel to the country, insisted it will "address any fears" (TELEGRAPH, 4/24). Also in London, Hannah Ellis-Petersen reported Leeds' tour will be sponsored by AYA, a private Myanmar bank "implicated in ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya." AYA bank is owned by Myanmar tycoon Zaw Zaw, who was "blacklisted" by the U.S. for "being a crony of the former military regime." He is a "close ally" of Myanmar State Counsellor Suu Kyi and the government, and is alleged to be "one of the biggest funders of a controversial" program to rebuild Rahkine, which is thought will have "little benefit" for the Rohingya community if it is "allowed to return." Leeds Owner Andrea Radrizzani has business interests in sports media firms operating in southeast Asia (GUARDIAN, 4/24). REUTERS' Shrivathsa Sridhar reported Leeds will also conduct football clinics with Myanmar Football Federation academies in Yangon and Mandalay and visit cultural sites including Shwedagon Pagoda and the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda. Leeds Managing Dir Angus Kinnear said, "Myanmar is one of the fastest-growing nations in southeast Asia and is passionate about English football. They have ambitious goals for grassroots and elite football development that we're delighted to be able to support" (REUTERS, 4/24). The BBC reported nearly 700,000 of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority have "fled the country since August because of ongoing military operations in Rakhine." Amnesty Int'l U.K. Dir Kate Allen said, "Far too often, sporting events have been used as a cheap PR tool to 'sportswash' the stain of a country's human rights record" (BBC, 4/24).
