What can Australia do to protect those under threat in Myanmar? Here are four practical suggestions
2 years, 9 months ago

What can Australia do to protect those under threat in Myanmar? Here are four practical suggestions

ABC  

In Australia, World Refugee Day is an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful diversity and strength of our country’s refugee population. Australia could enact something similar with democracy activists from Myanmar, creating a virtual corridor from Thailand to Australia. One key step would be engaging with them to identify how best to smooth the process of family reunification — another crucial avenue of protection, and one that is so important to people from Myanmar who call Australia home. Anthony Albanese’s Labor government has shown some encouraging signs on refugee policy, including a commitment to scrapping temporary protection visas, increasing the refugee and humanitarian resettlement program, and returning the Murugappan family to Biloela. But this Refugee Week, it’s worth remembering that Myanmar’s refugees need urgent practical solutions, not just positive pledges.

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History of this topic

Australia boosting aid to Papua New Guinea for landslide recovery and security
9 months ago

Australia boosting aid to Papua New Guinea for landslide recovery and security

Associated Press  

NEWCASTLE, Australia — Australia will provide a further 2 million Australian dollars to support reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea after last month’s deadly landslide, the government said Thursday. “Road access is critical for essential services as well as food and fuel supply chains,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement that coincided with a visit to the …

Myanmar students may be 'forced to support an oppressive regime' after graduating from Australian universities
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Myanmar students may be 'forced to support an oppressive regime' after graduating from Australian universities

ABC  

They came to Australia to build a better future. "The risk of being forcibly recruited into the military and a regime that commits human rights violation, it's contrary to my personal safety and ethical belief," she said. Associate professor Nick Cheesman from the ANU Myanmar Research Centre said while nothing was certain, Australia Awards scholars who return to Myanmar would …

Australia is imposing new sanctions against Myanmar's junta, but civil groups say more needs to be done to untangle Australia from junta atrocities
1 year, 1 month ago

Australia is imposing new sanctions against Myanmar's junta, but civil groups say more needs to be done to untangle Australia from junta atrocities

ABC  

Australia has imposed another round of sanctions designed to strangle the flow of money to Myanmar's junta, three years after the military seized power in an illegal coup. Key points: Anti-junta groups are concerned that Australian companies are propping-up the regime A new round of sanctions will target banks that support state-owned enterprises Activists allege a dozen Australian and Australian-linked …

Why Has Australia Suddenly Gone Quiet on Myanmar?
1 year, 7 months ago

Why Has Australia Suddenly Gone Quiet on Myanmar?

The Diplomat  

Indonesia assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the beginning of January and quickly implemented a diplomatic change in the regional bloc’s approach to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. This engagement is purposely “quiet” and done without fanfare in the hope of building trust via what Retno has labeled “non-megaphone diplomacy.” Jakarta’s quiet diplomacy represents the …

Australia to prioritise humanitarian visas for Myanmar nationals fleeing military coup
2 years, 4 months ago

Australia to prioritise humanitarian visas for Myanmar nationals fleeing military coup

ABC  

Myanmar nationals living in Australia are welcoming a move from the Australian government to prioritise them in seeking onshore humanitarian protection visas. "In recognition of the grave humanitarian and security situation in Myanmar, the Albanese government has designated Myanmar nationals in Australia as a priority caseload in our onshore humanitarian visa program," a statement from Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said. …

Australian government reveals $2.5 million spend at Myanmar military-linked hotels in bloody aftermath of coup
2 years, 6 months ago

Australian government reveals $2.5 million spend at Myanmar military-linked hotels in bloody aftermath of coup

ABC  

The Australian government has spent more than $2.5 million in taxpayer funds on luxury accommodation linked to Myanmar's military junta since it overthrew the country's democratically elected government in a coup last year. Key points: Human rights groups say Australia is failing the Myanmar people by patronising these hotels Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia's operations in Myanmar don't directly …

Myanmar nationals in Australia face passport limbo as calls for sanctions against military junta grow
2 years, 7 months ago

Myanmar nationals in Australia face passport limbo as calls for sanctions against military junta grow

ABC  

When Nwayoo — not her real name — got a letter from the Department of Home Affairs asking her to explain why her passport was invalid, her heart sank. Key points: The Myanmar embassy in Australia is loyal to the military junta, which overthrew the government last year Some Myanmar nationals have had passports cancelled and fear renewing the documents …

Australian officials set to attend opening of Myanmar 'representative office' in Canberra for shadow government
2 years, 7 months ago

Australian officials set to attend opening of Myanmar 'representative office' in Canberra for shadow government

ABC  

Senior Australian foreign affairs officials are set to attend the opening of a new "representative office" for Myanmar's shadow civilian government in Canberra next week, in a sign the Albanese Government is increasingly willing to build political links with the military regime's opponents. Key points: Myanmar's National Unity Government will open its own mission in a rented house in inner …

Academics call on government to let Myanmar students stay in Australia due to danger back home
2 years, 9 months ago

Academics call on government to let Myanmar students stay in Australia due to danger back home

ABC  

When Rose — not her real name — first came to Australia to study, she couldn't wait to take her new-found knowledge back to her home country in South-East Asia. Key points: There are around 30 Australia Awards students from Myanmar currently stuck here The scholarship requires them to return home, but academics say it's not safe They are calling …

Myanmar students at Australian universities are stuck between a coup and COVID-19
3 years, 7 months ago

Myanmar students at Australian universities are stuck between a coup and COVID-19

ABC  

Thomson Lin's* teachers don't quite know the lengths he went to just to hand one of his recent assignments in on time. Key points: Several Australian universities say they have offered financial assistance and mental health support to their Myanmar students Some students say they feel trapped in Myanmar after signing a deal that forces them to depart Australia for …

Myanmar students in Australia accuse embassy of intimidation
3 years, 8 months ago

Myanmar students in Australia accuse embassy of intimidation

ABC  

Myanmar student groups have accused the country's embassy in Canberra of intimidation and foreign interference after it sent letters to Myanmar government scholars in Australia, demanding they pledge loyalty to the military junta. Key points: A letter sent from the Myanmar embassy orders students to declare they do not support the pro-democracy movement It threatens they may be "subject to …

Australia ends defence cooperation with Myanmar over coup
4 years ago

Australia ends defence cooperation with Myanmar over coup

India Today  

Australia has suspended its defence cooperation with Myanmar and is redirecting humanitarian aid because of the military takeover of the government and ongoing detention of an Australian citizen. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday that Australian diplomats only had access to economic policy adviser Sean Turnell twice since he was detained in early February. She described the access as …

Australia cuts Myanmar military ties amid ‘rising death toll’
4 years ago

Australia cuts Myanmar military ties amid ‘rising death toll’

Al Jazeera  

Australia was among 13 countries campaigners say have been providing assistance to military that seized control of Myanmar in a coup. Australia has suspended its defence cooperation programme with Myanmar amid concern about the “escalating violence and rising death toll,” Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said as the country’s military steps up its crackdown on enormous protests against its coup …

Australian government condemns violence against Myanmar protesters against military coup
4 years ago

Australian government condemns violence against Myanmar protesters against military coup

ABC  

The Australian government is making major changes to its diplomatic relationship with Myanmar and redirecting humanitarian aid in response to the military coup in the country. Key points: Australia is suspending the limited bilateral Defence Cooperation Program with Myanmar's military It is also redirecting humanitarian aid towards Rohingyas and other vulnerable groups, avoiding government bodies The UN said security forces …

Documents reveal inside story of Australia's defence cooperation with Myanmar junta
4 years ago

Documents reveal inside story of Australia's defence cooperation with Myanmar junta

ABC  

Documents released under freedom of information laws have revealed new details about Australia's controversial program of defence cooperation with Myanmar's military. Key points: The federal government says its military cooperation with Myanmar is "modest" in scale The documents illuminate some of the challenges and pitfalls of dealing with a military, which has been accused of war crimes The documents also …

Australia joins list of countries warning Myanmar military against staging coup amid fraud claims
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia joins list of countries warning Myanmar military against staging coup amid fraud claims

ABC  

Australia has joined several Western nations in warning Myanmar's military against staging a coup in the aftermath of an election the army said was fraudulent. Key points: The army alleges voter fraud and said it plans to "take action" if its complaints are not addressed The military said that a constitution should be repealed if it was not abided by …

Australia to continue military training in Myanmar despite ethnic cleansing allegations
7 years, 5 months ago

Australia to continue military training in Myanmar despite ethnic cleansing allegations

ABC  

Australia will continue its $300,000 military cooperation program with Myanmar despite allegations the army there has led a campaign of "textbook ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims. But an Australian Department of Defence spokesperson said it was working with the Myanmar military to "promote professionalism and adherence to international laws". "We are very concerned about what's happening to the Rohingya people …

India, Australia and the Rohingyas
9 years, 9 months ago

India, Australia and the Rohingyas

The Hindu  

In May, the Thai police found dozens of bodies in an abandoned jungle camp in southern Thailand, which was used regularly to smuggle Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar. Despite the escalating Rohingya crisis, India, which is making concerted efforts to build a strong relationship with Myanmar, and Australia, where the migrants are fleeing by boat, are not doing enough; …

Australia to boost Myanmar aid but keep sanctions
15 years, 1 month ago

Australia to boost Myanmar aid but keep sanctions

The Hindu  

Australia will inject more humanitarian aid into Myanmar but maintain sanctions until the Southeast Asian nation’s military junta significantly improves how it treats its people, a top official said on Monday. But Australia agreed with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that removing international sanctions against Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, would send the regime the “wrong …

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