The Australian Centre for International Justice, joined Australian civil society groups to calling on the Australian Government to take immediate action against the military coup in Myanmar which has led to over 500 civilians being killed thus far.
Read the joint civil society letter here.
Together we are calling for the Australian Government to:
- Enact sanctions against the military, its leaders and its business interests and business partners. This must include military conglomerates MEC and MEHL and national oil and gas company, MOGE.
- Recognise the CRPH (Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw), the representative body of the democratically elected Myanmar MPs.
- Use all diplomatic leverage and influence to ensure rule of law is upheld and a return to democratic norms, civilian led government and the immediate release of those men and women detained including journalists, civil society activists and MPs.
- Support accountability mechanisms and proceedings including at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
- Encourage other UN member countries to agree upon a global arms embargo that prohibits supplying weapons to Myanmar.
- Provide extension of visas to all people from Myanmar living in Australia, provide protection visas to students and others unable to return, including stateless Rohingya refugees, and to prioritise people forced to seek asylum from Myanmar as refugees in Australia’s refugee intake.
- Allocate ODA to Myanmar to support local civil society organisations, including humanitarian assistance to those affected by the civil unrest and violence in ethnic states and border regions.
The joint letter also calls for action from the business sector; any Australian company currently doing business in Myanmar is at risk of legitimising the coup and funding the military regime.
Signatories are calling for Australian businesses to:
- Rule out any financial and in-kind payments flowing to the Myanmar military, their economic interests and business partners.
- Immediately divest from any relationships with military owned, controlled or linked business and organisations. This includes state owned enterprises now under the control of the military.
- Temporarily suspend operations, including any mining and gas exploration activities, in Myanmar and call on the Myanmar military to allow a return to democratic norms and a civilian led government.
