New Zealand Cuts Political Ties With Myanmar

Jacinda Ardern dan Aung San Suu Kyi dalam 14th East Asia Summit 2019 di Thailand. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Communications Operations Office)

JAKARTA - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the military coup that took place in Myanmar and said the New Zealand Government would suspend all high-level political and military contact with Myanmar on Tuesday local time.

"New Zealand will also impose a travel ban on Myanmar's military leaders, and ensure that aid programs to the country will not include projects delivered with or benefiting the military government", he said in a press statement.

“Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand and one of the things we will do is suspend high-level dialogue. New Zealand provided assistance worth 42 million New Zealand dollars (USD 30 million) to Myanmar between 2018 and 2021", Ardern added.

As reported previously, foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said New Zealand did not recognize the legitimacy of Myanmar's military-led government and asked them to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule.

"We are coordinating and discussing with several countries regarding the steps to be taken, it could be imposing sanctions on Myanmar", he said.

It is known that the Myanmar military led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing took power in Myanmar on February 1. This step was followed by the detention of Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar President U Win Myint and many other Myanmar figures.