- New Zealand is suspending “all high-level political and military contact with Myanmar” following last week’s coup
- The country’s aid program to Myanmar will not include projects that are delivered with or benefit the military government, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta
- In the past, the program has benefited union movements, agriculture and education institutions
- Travel bans will also be imposed on Myanmar’s military leaders in the coming weeks
- New Zealand is one of several countries to call for a special session at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Myanmar to raise concerns about the military coup and the impacts on human rights
New Zealand is suspending “all high-level political and military contact with Myanmar” following last week’s coup.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed that the country’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta had made fundamental changes to New Zealand’s relationship with Myanmar.
Mahuta said that New Zealand’s aid program to Myanmar should not include projects that are delivered with or benefit the military government.
“Keeping in mind, it’s not an insignificant aid program in Myanmar, $42 million from 2018 through to 2021, so you would just want to make sure that was managed in an appropriate way by MFAT [Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade] staff,” she said.
In the past, the program has benefited union movements, agriculture and education institutions, Ardern said, adding that travel bans will also be imposed on Myanmar’s military leaders in the coming weeks.
New Zealand is one of several countries to call for a special session at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Myanmar to raise concerns about the military coup and the impacts on human rights.
“I think every New Zealander would be devastated after years of working so hard to build a democracy in Myanmar to see what we’ve seen in recent days unfold by the military,” Ardern continued.
“Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand.”
In a separate statement, Mahuta said that New Zealand does not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and urged the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule.