Justice For Myanmar (JFM) has announced that Vogue Italia, the top Italian fashion magazine, has removed content featuring Rachel Tay Za, daughter of military crony Tay Za. The removal of the online article about Rachel Tay Za (Htoo Htet Tay Za), who is sanctioned by the United States, came after Justice For Myanmar sent a letter to Condé Nast, the parent company of Vogue Italia. JFM welcomed Vogue Italia’s action, which aligns with the UN Guidelines on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct.
JFM stated that Rachel Tay Za, as a responsible person in the Htoo Group, benefits from the profits of the organization that is involved in the military junta’s violence against the people of Myanmar. The Htoo Group has been mediating arms agreements and providing financial support to the military regime and their business groups through land rental fees and other corrupt agreements. JFM pointed out that featuring Rachel Tay Za on Vogue Italia’s platform amounts to whitewashing the reputation of a family that supports international crimes.
The 27-year-old Rachel Tay Za, who lives in Italy and graduated from a fashion school, continues to work for her father’s EU-sanctioned Htoo Group of Companies. Her education was reportedly funded by profits from the military-backed Htoo Group. According to JFM, while living in Italy, Rachel Tay Za serves as a director in at least seven Htoo Group companies, including new companies established after the military coup and companies directly connected to the Myanmar military. She also owns shares in these companies. JFM has consistently called for Rachel Tay Za to be removed from Italy and for action to be taken against her blood-tainted business operations.
Due to her involvement with the military-backed Htoo Group of Companies and being Tay Za’s daughter, Rachel Tay Za was sanctioned by the United States in January 2023. Her father Tay Za and brothers Pye Phyo Tay Za and Htoo Htet Tay Za have also been sanctioned by the United States, Britain, and Canada. Although the Italian magazine has removed the feature about Rachel Tay Za, JFM states that the battle is not over and calls on the fashion industry to reject crony fashion designers. JFM has been demanding since March 2024 that Rachel Tay Za be denied residency in EU member state Italy and that her assets be controlled.
