Burma (Myanmar) Junta’s $3 Million Lobbying Campaign Is a Direct Threat to Ethnic Nationalities’ Struggle for Freedom

In a calculated attempt to whitewash its ongoing campaign of violence against the people of Burma (Myanmar), the military junta has hired Washington, D.C.–based DCI Group, a politically connected public affairs firm, under a $3 million annual contract. According to filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the contract—signed July 31, 2025—tasks DCI with “public affairs services” designed to improve U.S.–Burma relations in trade, natural resources, and humanitarian aid (Reuters, 2025).

This is not a goodwill gesture. It is a manipulative influence operation meant to buy credibility in Washington while the junta continues to commit atrocities against Burma’s ethnic peoples, including the Karen, Karenni, Kachin, Chin, Rakhine, Shan, and Rohingya. Congressional Republicans in particular—many of whom the junta’s lobbyists will target due to partisan connections—must not be fooled into mistaking public relations for genuine reform.

DCI Group: A History of Image Laundering for Authoritarian Regimes

Founded in 1996, DCI Group has a history of manufacturing “astroturf” campaigns—engineered efforts that mimic authentic grassroots movements (Wikipedia, 2025). The firm has close Republican ties; senior partners such as Justin Peterson and Brian McCabe previously served in the Trump administration (Reuters, 2025).

This is not DCI’s first relationship with the Burma (Myanmar) military. In 2002–2003, DCI was paid approximately $348,000 by a previous junta to lobby for better U.S. relations, a deal that sparked political fallout when revealed during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign (Wikipedia, 2025). Now, they are being paid nearly ten times more—in the middle of an ongoing civil war and amid United Nations reports of crimes against humanity (United Nations, 2024).

What the Junta is Trying to Hide

While DCI pushes a sanitized image to policymakers, the reality on the ground is stark:

• Mass displacement: Over 3 million people have been displaced since the February 2021 coup (UNHCR, 2025).

• Systematic atrocities: Documented cases include mass killings, village burnings, and sexual violence targeting ethnic minorities (Amnesty International, 2024).

• Economic exploitation: State-owned enterprises such as Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) funnel billions to military coffers while ethnic regions are stripped of resources without consent or compensation (Human Rights Watch, 2025).

The junta’s strategy is clear: commit atrocities domestically while hiring expensive lobbyists abroad to convince U.S. leaders that they are legitimate.

Why Republicans Are the Key Target

Given DCI Group’s deep Republican network, the junta is betting on partisan affinity to open doors in Congress. This is a moral hazard for Republican lawmakers, particularly those who frame themselves as defenders of freedom and religious liberty.

Supporting or entertaining DCI’s messaging risks:

1. Undermining U.S. sanctions designed to cripple the junta’s war machine.

2. Betraying the ethnic nationalities—many of whom fought alongside U.S. and Allied forces during World War II against Japanese occupation.

3. Rewarding impunity by legitimizing a regime engaged in genocide, as recognized by the U.S. government in the case of the Rohingya (U.S. Department of State, 2022).

The Stakes for Ethnic Nationalities

The Karen, Kachin, Karenni, Chin, Rakhine, Shan, and other non-Burman ethnic groups have long resisted central military domination. They seek full autonomy and control over their lands and resources—not subjugation under a Burman-dominated junta.

If Washington softens its stance under DCI’s influence:

• Sanctions relief would free up more funds for the junta to buy weapons and fuel its war against civilians.

• Recognition of the junta as the legitimate government would destroy the political leverage of ethnic armed organizations and the pro-democracy movement.

• It would signal to other authoritarian regimes that lobbying dollars can outweigh human rights abuses.

A Call to Action for Congress

Congress—particularly Republicans courted by DCI—must reject any engagement that legitimizes the junta. Instead, they should:

• Strengthen sanctions on military-controlled enterprises and foreign companies enabling the regime.

• Support legislation such as the BRAVE Burma Act and the Burma Genocide Accountability and Protection (GAP) Act, which reinforce non-recognition of the junta and fund investigations into atrocity crimes.

• Stand publicly with Burma’s ethnic nationalities, affirming their right to self-determination and resource sovereignty.

References

• Amnesty International. (2024). Myanmar: Crimes against humanity in ethnic states.

• Human Rights Watch. (2025). “Fueling Atrocities: The Role of MOGE in Myanmar’s Conflict.”

• Reuters. (2025, August 8). Myanmar signs deal with Washington lobbyists to rebuild US relations.

• UNHCR. (2025). Displacement crisis in Myanmar.

• United Nations. (2024). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

• U.S. Department of State. (2022). Determination of genocide and crimes against humanity in Burma.

• Wikipedia. (2025). DCI Group.