1 Attn: Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Joint Standing

Attn: Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade

16th April 2021

Re: Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Public Hearing on Myanmar

We write as a group of concerned Australians who have lived and worked in Myanmar for some time over the past decade.

On the 1st of February 2021, Myanmar’s Military (the ‘Tatmadaw’) seized power in Myanmar, alleging election fraud after their poor performance in the November 2020 elections and detaining elected parliamentarians, election commission officials and key members of Myanmar’s dominant political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD).1 Including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and her (Australian) economic advisor Dr Sean Turnell.

Since the coup, the Military has responded to widespread protests and civil disobedience through a widespread campaign of violence with over 700 people have been killed and more than 3,000 arrested, charged, or sentenced by the authorities.2 The vast majority of those murdered by the military have been unarmed civilians.

Our personal and professional connection to Myanmar makes us acutely aware of the enormous loss of human potential not just from death but from reduced opportunities not just in that country but also in the region if the human, political and economic fallout from the coup continues to escalate. While the people of Myanmar have shown incredible resilience, bravery, and ingenuity in resisting the coup. The Tatmadaw’s history of brutality, demonstrated by the recent genocide and displacement of thousands of Rohingya, suggests rapid international action is needed to ensure the military’s campaign of brutality does not escalate further.

Avoiding further violence, supporting the Civil Disobedience Movement, and aiding Myanmar back to the path of democratic reform is in the interests of region and Australia’s economic and political stability. It is therefore incumbent on world leaders, particularly those in the region such as Australia, to respond quickly to ensure the immediate protection of Myanmar’s citizens and its fledgling democracy by swiftly cutting off the Military’s access to financial resources through application of targeted economic and political sanctions.

We welcome suspension of Australia’s military cooperation with Myanmar and re-direction of our aid program towards priority humanitarian needs. However, recognizing the economic, political, and humanitarian consequences if Myanmar were to return to authoritarian rule, we would also urge further action from the Australian government, including:

• Refusing to officially recognize the military regime as representing the Myanmar state and people in any form or forum, issuing a public statement conferring official recognition on the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) as Myanmar's rightful government and engaging meaningfully with ethnic leaders and groups within the Civil Disobedience Movement;

• Echoing the United State and United Kingdom government’s decision to freeze the assets of Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanma Economic Holdings, Australia should seek to support this through the

1 12/2/2021, “Election officials detained in Myanmar 'in bid to prove fraud'”, The Guardian International Edition, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/12/election-officials-held-in-myanmar-in-bid-to-prove 2 11th of April 2021 – The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). https://aappb.org/ 1

immediate application of targeted economic sanctions to all entities associated with Tatmadaw. Including, but not limited to, those identified by the UN Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar3 and Justice for Myanmar4.

• Intensifying Australia’s anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts in the region, with a particular focus on areas of illegal trade that represent key revenue sources for the Tatmadaw (e.g., drugs, gems, wildlife, humans);

• Providing immediate assurances to citizens of Myanmar currently in Australia that they will be allowed to stay in Australia once their visas expire and not forced to return while the regime remains in power;

• Ensuring the arms embargo Australia has imposed includes not only arms and military equipment transfers, but dual-use items, including technological tools of surveillance and repression. Australia also can continue to push for a UN-wide arms embargo but failing this, at least help coordinate a list of prohibited items and sharing information with likeminded countries, so that we know these embargoes are being enforced;

• As a friend of ASEAN and member of the newly established Quad, supporting countries in these networks who are like-minded and/or have significant interests in the security of Myanmar (e.g., Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Japan) to also impose targeted sanctions and use whatever diplomatic means available to pressure the junta into cessation of violence and return to stability and democracy in Myanmar, reflecting the will of the people;

• Urging Australian companies linked to military-owned enterprises and their subsidiaries to cease all operations in Myanmar until democracy is restored;

• Demanding the release of all Australian nationals including the economic advisor to the State Counsellor, Sean Turnell;

• Working with UNHCR, humanitarian organizations and regional governments to ensure refugees fleeing Myanmar to neighboring countries are treated in accordance with international law and not forcibly returned to Myanmar; and

• Immediately increasing humanitarian assistance to Myanmar through civil society groups and other non- government entities (including multilateral organizations) to protect those whose livelihoods are at most risk from the coup.

We look forward to a much stronger and more urgent response to the current crisis from the Australian government.

The people of Myanmar deserve nothing less.

3 16 Sept 2019, Economic interests of the Myanmar military - A/HRC/42/CRP.3, United Nations Human Rights Council, https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/MyanmarFFM/Pages/EconomicInterestsMyanmarMilitary.aspx 4 12/4/2021, Myanmar Cartel Finance Map, Justice for Myanmar - https://data.justiceformyanmar.org/ 2

Signed:

Name Position / Title Albert AVI volunteer partner 2013/2016, Volunteer World Concern, Opportunities Now Gentleman Alison Carter Founder and Managing Director, Three Good Spoons Limited, a social enterprise promoting decent work for domestic workers Andrea Flew AVI Volunteer with Union Parliament 2016-2017; AVI Volunteer with Monastic Education Development Group 2012-2014; Learning Adviser with Union Parliament, Interparliamentary Union, 2018-2019. Andrew Hamblin AVI volunteer 2016/2017 Myeik. Buddhist monk 1987/1998

Angus Johnstone EFL Teacher Trainer, Yangon Bakehouse and Yangon University of Nursing, 2015-2019

Anna Greble Communications and Advocacy Mentor, Gender Equality Network 2015-2017; Australia Awards Consultant, Australian Embassy in Myanmar 2017-2019 Anthea Snowsill PhD Candidate, Anthropology, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, active in Myanmar 2017-present Carolyn Grant Humanitarian Services Manager/Organisational Development Adviser (Paung Sie Facility) Chris Chaffe English language teacher/ trainer 2013 - 2020

Cindy Wilkinson Organisational Management Mentor, AVP Volunteer and GM of We Women Foundation supporting Burmese women Claire Burgess PhD Candidate, Geography, Planning & Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania | Research Advisor, Action Aid Myanmar 2014-16 Craig Opie Radiation therapy clinical educator / researcher Yangon General Hospital / Mandalay General Hospital 2015 - 2019 Daniel Jacobs English Language Communication Mentor, Directorate of Investment and Company Administration 2019-2020 David Kimber Retired Academic, AVP Volunteer- Monastic Education and Myiek University, Myanmar 2016-18 Deborah English Language Teacher Trainer, NCEL, University of Yangon 2013 - 2016 Gentleman Deborah Organisational Development, Local Resource Centre & Burnette Institute Myanmar Gillespie (2013-2014) Debrah Mercurio Lawyer, worked for Mawlamyine Justice Centre, MLAW, Promoting the Rule of Law Project, MyJustice and Rule of Law Centres in Myanmar, 2014-2017 Denise McArthur English Language Teacher Trainer, NCEL, University of Yangon 2013 - 2016

Dennis Worrall Construction Project Manager and Business Owner in Myanmar / University LMS Project Manager Dr Aung Myint AVI Clinical Psychologist & Lecturer, Psychology Department, University of Yangon, Myanmar 2014-2016 Dr Rosanne Prof (Hon) University Medicine 1, international consultant for emergency development Skalicky-Klein Myanmar 2013 - 2021

Name Position / Title Dr. Praveena Public Health Specialist and Migration Health Officer, International Organization for Gunaratnam Migration, Myanmar 2014-15 Eileen Morley Teacher trainer, University of Nursing Yangon for AVI (Australian aid program)

Eleanor Swindon Gender Advisor, International Media Support and Fojo Media Institute, 2016-2018

Elenor Kerr Epidemiologist, Marie Stopes Myanmar 2015-2017

Emma Carters Public Health Officer, CARE Myanmar 2014-15

Fran Siemensma Retired Academic, Education and Management Mentor, AVP VOLUNTEER Myanmar 2016-18 Frank Storey Education Specialist UNESCO

Frank Willmott AVI volunteer partner, English teacher Yangon Bakehouse and Monastic Education Sector, 2013-2016 Giles Dickenson- Economist and former Economic Advisor to the Myanmar Parliament's Public Accounts Jones Committee Jenny Blessing English Language Training Specialist, Myanmar Human Rights Commission, 2014-2015

Jessica Scott Nutrition Specialist, WorldFish (CGIAR) Myanmar 2017 - 2020

Jonathan Legal Policy Officer, International Organization for Migration, Myanmar 2014-2015 Paniagua Kate Dennehy Public Relations & Marketing Mentor, United Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Yangon 2016-17 Keith Keat Seng Volunteer (2016), Mandalay Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mandalay, Yeoh Myanmar Kerry Barker Communications Advisor, Myanmar Center For Social & Economic Development and UNDP, Yangon, Myanmar. Leanne Germain -

Liam Best Communications Manager, International Organisation for Migration, Myanmar (2015- 2017). Linda Stannard LMS Developer and eLearning Mentor, Thabyay Education Foundation, Yangon, for Australian Volunteer Program Lisa O'Donnell -

Louise McSorley Advisor to International Labour Organisation Yangon and UNDP Nay Pyi Daw, 2014, 2019, 2020 Lucy Stevens Technical Specialist, Gender Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, United Nations Populations Fund, Myanmar 2014-2018 Lydia Mudryj Lawyer and EFL teacher, UNDP, 2015-2019, Taunggyi, Mandalay, Naypyitaw, legal sector

Name Position / Title Lynette Cheverall Emergency Nurse Educator AVI, University of Nursing Yangon, 2015-2017,

Mark Morris Disability Inclusion Officer, Humanity & Inclusion, 2016-2019

Marty O'Donnell -

Mathew Tasker Social Protection and Livelihoods Advisor, Save the Children Myanmar, 2014 - 2019

Matthew Gosney NGO Organisational Development Specialist 2014-2017

Melinda Lee Geospatial analyst, UN-Habitat Myanmar, Land Administration and Management Programme Melissa Buckley Migration Protection Officer, International Organization for Migration Myanmar 2014- 2015 Michele Gaudry English Resource Centre Mentor, NCEL, University of Yangon 2015-2016

Miranda Rudd Business Development, Social Media & Administration Assistant Hughes Morgan Curriculum Development supporting nonformal adult education sector in Myanmar Macdonald and border areas Mr Nigel Klein Medical Educator, PreHospital Care Consultant UM1/UON 2013-2020

Phillip Germain Finance Manager, Woodside Energy 2015 - 2018

Phillipa Beale Deputy Country Director, Care Australia, Myanmar 2012-2017

Rachel Hunter Social Worker, Yangon, 2015-2019

Randi Wagner Design & Communications | Business Development for social enterprise | Hla Day Myanmar | 2016-2018 Rena Frohman EFL Teacher Trainer, AVID Myeik University 2016-2017

Richard Bird English teaching adviser/Linguistics lecturer University of Yangon. Academic English Teacher, University of Sydney Robyn Jackson Tourism and TVET advisor, AVI, UNESCO 2013-2016, Luxembourg Development Agency, 2016- 2021 Sophia Elections and Governance Specialist, Myanmar (2014-2017) Fernandes Susan Black Social Enterprise Development Action Aid Myanmar 2016 - 2018

Tom Barton Deputy Editor - Lifestyle, Myanmar Times, 2015

William Francis Spatial Data Infrastructure Manager / United Nations Myanmar Information Management Unit, OneMap Myanmar 2014-2018