Australia

Monday, 28 December 2009 15:19

Major Facts

Statistics:

2010 $AUD30 million Australian dollars.

Latest News:

8 Feb 2010 - Australia announced a 40 per cent increase in humanitarian aid to Burma to encourage a democratic election later this year.

9 Oct 2009 - Aung San Suu Kyi met deputy heads of the U.S. and Australian missions and the ambassador of Britain, which represented the European Union

Background

Diplomatic relations since: 1953

Burma policy: principled diplomacy, generous humanitarian assistance, a ban on defense exports, and targeted sanctions against hundreds of key Myanmar military leaders and their close family and business associates.

Australia’s foreign policy is based on its concerns about the Burmese government’s actions and suppression of its people’s aspirations for democracy

Since the Labor Party, under Kevin Ruud, replaced the former conservative Liberal Party government of John Howard in December 2007, Australia has taken a keen interest in Burma and wanted policy changes that would help make a difference for the ordinary Burmese people. Last November the country’s external broadcaster, Radio Australia has been transmitting news programmes in Burmese on short-wave.

Australia has travel restrictions on senior Burmese military figures and imposed a ban on defence exports to the country after the military brutally crushed the pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988. Financial sanctions were adopted following the military regime's violent suppression of the monk-led protests in 2007.

Statements

Major Deals and Cooperation

22 October 2008	Australia added 45 new names to the list of some 418 Myanmar individuals named for punishment with financial restriction.
1988	visa restrictions on senior Burmese military figures and a ban on defence exports

EVENT TRACKER

2010.11.20	In a telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd this week, Aung San Suu Kyi expressed her support for Australia's increased aid program to Burma and asked him to visit her when he could. Mr Rudd told The Weekend Australian he planned to take up the invitation and visit Burma "as soon as it's appropriate".
2010.11.14	Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd told the people of Burma in a broadcast on Radio Australia that they were not alone in their quest for democracy and freedom. The broadcasts are understood to be closely monitored by Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters. Noting the close ties between Burma and China, Mr Rudd also predicted this would be a continuing challenge for the Chinese leadership.
2010.11.12	Australia has complained to Myanmar after two Australian journalists investigating media freedoms were arrested and deported from the country, days after much-criticised elections, officials said.
2010.10.31	Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd expressed "grave reservations" about upcoming elections in Myanmar and called for the release of political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
2010.06.30	Zin Mon Aye, the daughter of a senior Burmese general, is forced to leave Australia after losing a legal battle over her right to remain in the country due to the country's sanctions against the Burmese regime.
2010.06.30	A leading member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) told visiting Australian Deputy Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Hugh Borrowman that the newly formed party has sufficient finances because it has inherited funds from the junta-backed civic organization, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA). The meeting was also attended by representatives of three other political parties—the National Unity Party, the Democratic Party and the Union Democratic Party.
2010.06.29	UEC member Dr Tin Aung Aye received Mr Hugh Borrowman of Commonwealth of Australia Deputy Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and party.
2010.04.20	The upper house of Parliament in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) passed a unanimous resolution not to acknowledge Burma's election unless Burma's ruling junta revises the 2008 Constitution and releases all political prisoners, including main opposition leader Aung San Su Kyi.
2010.03.15	The Australian government expressed support for investigating possible options to establish a United Nations commission of inquiry to investigate crimes against humanity in Burma at a UN Human Rights Council meeting
2010.02.08	Australia announced a 40 per cent increase in humanitarian aid to Burma to encourage a democratic election later this year.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 November 2010 23:26