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- Australia has joined a growing list of countries severing ties to Myanmar following February’s violent military coup and the deadly protests since
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said Australia has “grave concerns” over the coup and the junta’s subsequent violent actions
- Over 50 people have been killed by Myanmar police and soldiers since February as anti-coup protests continue to erupt around the country
- As the junta faces growing international condemnation, Australia has suspended a Defence Cooperation Training Program with Myanmar’s military
- The Foreign Affairs Minister has also reiterated calls for the release of several Myanmar political leaders and an Australian professor from Myanmar prisons
- The move follows New Zealand, which suspended ties with the Myanmar military in February and dramatically amended aid programs to the country
- Myanmar’s new military leaders have also been blocked by the U.S. government from accessing funds held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Australia has joined a growing list of countries severing ties to Myanmar following February’s violent military coup and the deadly protests since.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said in a statement today Australia has “grave concerns” over the coup and the escalating violence as the junta tries to quell protests across Myanmar.
“We condemn the use of lethal force or violence against civilians exercising their universal rights, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” Minister Payne said.
“We continue to strongly urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence against civilians.”
Over 50 civilians have been killed in Myanmar since the coup and several more wounded. On March 4, 38 people were killed after police and soldiers allegedly opened fire on crowds as they protested the military’s actions.
As the junta faces increasing international condemnation, Australia has suspended a Defence Cooperation Training Program with Myanmar’s military.
The program was restricted to non-combat areas like English language training, but the call to suspend it was made after Australia consulted with its Association of Southeast Asian Nations neighbours.
“Australia’s development program is also being re-directed to the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and poor including the Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities,” Minister Payne added.
“We will prioritise the most pressing humanitarian and emerging needs and seek to ensure our humanitarian engagement is with and through non-government organisations, not with government or government-related entities, as is currently the case in some parts of the program.”
Australia already has a sanction regime in place that bans the supply of weapons to Myanmar.
The Foreign Affairs Minister has also reiterated calls for the release of several Myanmar political leaders and an Australian professor from Myanmar prisons.
Minister Payne said President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and Professor Sean Turnell have all been “arbitrarily detained” since the February coup.
Australia’s move follows New Zealand, which dramatically altered its relationship with Myanmar in February by amending aid programs to not benefit the military government in any way.
Myanmar’s new military leaders have also been blocked by the U.S. government from accessing funds held in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
