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 yesterday that Australian diplomats and relatives had only been able to contact economic policy adviser Sean Turnell twice by phone since he was detained in early February.

She described the access as “very limited consular support”.

“We believe Prof Turnell has been arbitrarily detained along with senior members of the Myanmar government including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, including President Win Myint, ” Payne told reporters.

“We do not accept the conditions of his detention and the reasons for his detention. We seek a return to democracy. We seek absolutely the cessation of any armed violence against unarmed peaceful protesting civilians. And in everything we are doing we are seeking Prof Turnell’s release, ” she added.

Australia announced late Sunday it had suspended a defence training programme with Myanmar worth about A$1.5mil (RM4.7mil) over five years. The programme had been restricted to non-combat areas such as English-language training.

Australian humanitarian aid will be directed away from Myanmar government and government-related entities. Instead it will focus on the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and poor in Myanmar, including the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities, Payne said.

“One of the things that I do not want to do, and that Australia does not want to do, is to penalise the people of Myanmar, ” Payne said.

Australia had previously imposed sanctions including an arms embargo and sanctions targeting five members of Myanmar’s armed forces.

These sanctions would continue to be reviewed, Payne said.

Turnell was detained within weeks of arriving in Yangon from Australia to take up a job as adviser to Suu Kyi’s government.

Hundreds of people gathered in Sydney over the weekend, urging the Australian government to take a strong stance against the coup. — Agencies

Vodlocker™~R! WATCH] Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) Online Full HD Free
Vodlocker™~R! WATCH] Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) Online Full HD Free
Vodlocker™~R! WATCH] Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) Online Full HD Free
Vodlocker™~R! WATCH] The Masked Singer Season 5 Episode 1 Online Full HD Free
Committee takes off to South Australia