Detention of Australian citizen lead to suspension of Australia's defense cooperation with Myanmar
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Canberra, Mar 8: The govt of Australia has suspended its defense cooperation with Myanmar and has decided to redirect the humanitarian aid which the country was providing to the govt of Myanmar. The decision was taken on Mar 7, 2021 by the govt following the military takeover of the govt of Myanmar and detention of the Australian citizen in Myanmar.
The Foreign Minister of Australia, Marise Payne, stated that the Australian diplomats only had access to the economic policy adviser Sean Turnell twice, after he was detained in Feb 2021 in Myanmar. Payne is of the view that it is a limited consular support for the diplomat. Australia announced to suspend its defense training program with Myanmar which was worth 1.5 million Australian dollars over the five years. This program was restricted to the non-combat areas like English-language training.
Now the Australian humanitarian aid will be directed away from the Myanmar govt and other govt-related entities. The aid will now focus on immediate humanitarian needs of most vulnerable and poor in Myanmar such as Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities. Australia had also imposed sanctions like an arms embargo and other sanctions which targeted several individuals. Those sanctions will also continue to be reviewed.
The Australian citizen was detained within the weeks of arriving in Yangon which is the biggest city of Myanmar.
He traveled from Australia to take up the job as adviser to the govt of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military coup on Myanmar took place on Feb 1, 2021 following which the Prime Minister of Myanmar Suu Kyi and the President Win Myint were arbitrarily detained.