Terminating Cooperation With The Myanmar Military, Australia Diverts Aid To Rohingya Muslims

Myanmar military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reviews economic facilities. (seniorgeneralminaunghlaing.com.mm)

JAKARTA - The Australian government is following in the footsteps of Western countries, the United States, and its neighbor New Zealand, in cutting ties with Myanmar.

This was done by the Australian Government, along with increasing violence and the increasing number of people killed and injured, as a result of the brutal action of the Myanmar military regime against anti-coup protesters.

Australia has cut ties with Myanmar in the field of defense cooperation. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the Myanmar military regime's crackdown on anti-coup protesters had intensified.

In addition, Australia will also direct immediate humanitarian needs to the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities, Payne said in a statement late Sunday.

"We will prioritize humanitarian and most urgent needs and seek to ensure our humanitarian engagement, with and through non-governmental organizations, not with governments or government-linked entities," Payne said.

Australia's bilateral defense relations with the Myanmar military are limited to non-combat areas such as English language training.

Canberra will also continue to demand the immediate release of its citizen Sean Turnell, Professor of Economics and adviser to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, authorities said. Turnell has been held with limited consular access since a February 1 coup that toppled Myanmar's elected government.

Last weekend, hundreds of people gathered in Australia's largest city, Sydney, urging the Australian government to take a firm stance against the coup.

"We continue to urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence against civilians," said Payne.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.