Burma

Background

Burma has been under military rule since 1962. The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) came to power in 1988 following anti-government protests. The junta responded to the protests with a military crackdown in which thousands were killed, martial law was declared and National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi arrested.

Multi-party elections in 1990 saw a decisive victory to the NLD, but the military refused to relinquish power. Since then, democratic movements have been suppressed by the junta, which has kept NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest for 13 of the last 19 years. Protests against the junta in 2007, the largest since 1988, drew a brutal government response. Soldiers killed more than 100 Buddhist monks and civilians who participated in the demonstrations. Other demonstrators were beaten, arrested and harassed.

A new constitution revealed in April 2008 is unlikely to bring genuine democratic reform. The junta’s “roadmap to democracy” ensures they retain power in a nominally democratic system after elections in 2010 by reserving a quarter of seats in parliament for the military.

The plight of the Burmese was compounded in 2008 when Cyclone Nargis stuck Yangon (Rangoon) and the Ayeyarwady delta, leaving at least 138,000 dead or missing and 800,000 displaced.

UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari has made several visits to Burma, the most recent leading to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call to resume substantive talks between the Burmese military junta and the NLD in February 2009.

Human rights situation

The human rights situation in Burma remains desperate, with reports of summary executions, forced labour, rape of women, persecution of political dissenters and land confiscation. The forcible recruitment of children accounts for 30 percent of the military. Approximately half a million Burmese have been internally displaced and another 190,000 have fled the country, the majority living in camps on the border with Thailand.

Government repression and economic mismanagement mean 90 percent of the population lives on less than 65 cents a day, and more than a third of children under five are malnourished. Because of Western sanctions, Burma receives 20 times less aid than other least developed countries. HIV/AIDS remains a serious problem, with the prevalence of disease growing rapidly.

Significant international actors in Burma

The major powers have responded to the human rights situation in Burma in different ways. The US and the EU have imposed strict sanctions on the military regime due to the lack of progress on human rights issues. China, India and Russia have not issued strong condemnations of the military regime. They maintain close relationships with the SPDC that include armament sales to the junta, and the importation of oil and gas from Burma.

Neighbouring Thailand’s heavy reliance on Burmese gas makes it unlikely to be publicly critical of the regime. However they have hosted 140,000 Burmese refugees over the past 25 years as well as up to half a million Burmese migrant labourers in Thailand.

Australia’s relationship with Burma

Australia has maintained diplomatic relationships with the military junta. Total trade between the two countries exceeded $55 million in 2007, mainly in wheat and seafood.

Australia also provided $55 million in humanitarian assistance after Cyclone Nargis. The Australian Government also funds other forms of humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma/Myanmar through UN institutions and NGOs.

Contacts

Diplomatic representation

Australia’s embassy in Burma/Myanmar
88 Strand Road
Rangoon (Yangon)

Tel: +95 1 251810, 251809, 246462 and/or 246463
Fax: +95 1 246159
Email: austembassy.rangoon@dfat.gov.au

Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in Australia
22 Arkana Street
Yarralumla ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6273 3811
Fax: (02) 6273 3181
Email: mecanberra@bigpond.com

International organisations working in Burma/Myanmar

UN organisations

- UNDP
6, Natmauk Road, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: + 95 1 542910 to 19
Fax: + 95 1 544531 and/or 545634
Email: registry.mm@undp.org
www.mm.undp.org

- UNHCR
#287 Pyay Road, Sanchaung Township
Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95 1 524 022, 524 024 and/or 524 025
Fax: +95 1 524 031
Email: myaya@unhcr.org

- UNICEF
14 and 15 Floor, Traders Hotel, 223 Sule Pagoda
Road, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: +95 1 375527-32 and/or 375547-50
Fax: +95 1 375552
Email: yangon@unicef.org
www.unicef.org/myanmar