Dear Senator the Hon Marise Payne,

On 1st February 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup d’état and unlawfully detained the democratically elected President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarians-elect, and other prominent political activists across Myanmar. The powers of national jurisdiction were handed to Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing, who imposed a state of emergency for one year. 

Moreover, the Myanmar military regime has been committing brutal crackdowns against peaceful protesters and ordinary civilians, disrupting internet services and coercing civil servants participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) to resume work. President-elect U Win Myint has called this coup a crime against the people of Myanmar and has urged the military to accept the 2020 democratic general election results.

On 4th January 2021, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged an attempt to mobilize enough international pressure on Myanmar’s military “to make sure that this coup fails.”

One of Myanmar’s leading activists for democracy, Ko Min Ko Naing, has asked international governments to move swiftly to assist the CDM springing up throughout Myanmar to dismantle the military dictatorship and to restore democracy in Myanmar.

Our organization, The Anti Myanmar Military Dictatorship Network (Australia), is a national network formed and led by people from Myanmar who currently reside in Australian states and territories.  On behalf of Myanmar citizens, our representing Myanmar communities in Australia,  and political sympathizers, we passionately request the Australian government to consider the following actions, as a matter of urgency:

1.         Diplomatic and comprehensive pressure to release President U Win Myint, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Australian Economic Advisor Prof. Sean Turnell, and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally.

2.         Actively participate in the international efforts seeking to apply pressure on the Myanmar military regime to accept the results of the 2020 democratic election.

3.         Recognition of CRPH (Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) as the legitimate and democratically elected government.  The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw refers to the Union Parliament elected by the citizens of Myanmar.  The CRPH was formed in response to the coup by elected lawmakers to serve as the legitimate governing body of Myanmar and conduct all regular functions of the Union Parliament. 

4.         Support the CDM (Civil Disobedience Movement) of the citizens of Myanmar, urgently and comprehensively.

5.         Suspend all high-level contact with Myanmar’s military officials and question the Myanmar diplomatic mission’s loyalty to the legitimate government led by President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

6.         Stop any military and protective service cooperation with Myanmar immediately.

7.         Impose financial sanctions and instantly freeze the Australian assets and properties of the Myanmar military junta, their associates, and family members.

8.         Impose targeted economic sanctions of all planned and ongoing investments and businesses related to the Myanmar military junta, their associates, and family members.

9.         Impose a visa ban on the Myanmar military leaders, their associates, and family members; and immediately revoke any current Australian visas and permanent residency statuses.