Canberra: Australia suspended its defense cooperation with Myanmar and diverted humanitarian aid due to the military takeover of the government and the continued detention of an Australian citizen.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Monday that Australian diplomats have only had access to economic policy adviser Sean Turnell twice since his detention in early February.
She describes the access as ‘very limited consular support’. “We continue to absolutely call for the release of Professor Sean Turnell,” Payne told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Australia announced late Sunday that it had suspended a defense training program with Myanmar of about 1.5 million Australian dollars ($ 1.2 million) over five years. The program was limited to non-combat areas such as English language training.
Australian humanitarian aid will be diverted from the Government of Myanmar and government-related agencies.
Instead, it will focus on the immediate humanitarian needs of the vulnerable and poor in Myanmar, including the Rohingyas and other ethnic minorities, Payne said.
Australia has previously imposed sanctions, including an arms embargo and sanctions aimed at several individuals. These sanctions will continue to be reviewed, Payne said.
Turnell was detained within weeks after arriving in Australia’s largest city, Yangon, in Myanmar to accept a position as adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.
Australia has also demanded the release of Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and others who have been arbitrarily detained since the February 1 military coup.
Source: Telangana Today