Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 3:20:52 to 3:38:49
The committee discusses alternative humanitarian aid delivery methods that bypass the military junta. Witnesses reach a consensus that Australia should prioritize non-state actors and formally reject the legitimacy of the military-led elections.
Topics: Human rights, Pacific relations
Speakers: Speaker 19, James Thet, David Shoebridge, Jessica Collins, Patrick Cho, Hon Sarah Henderson
>> Thank you chair. uh and I am uh asking a couple of questions on behalf of my colleague Senator Dean Smith and uh he would just like to get an understanding as would I about the uh priorities for the Australian government. If you can be uh focused on that please specific on if we want to start with the CRPH.
Thank you, Senator. Excuse my blindness. I got one eye blind. Thank you. So, uh first of all, I thanks to my colleagues, everybody who came from uh they use their own budget and fly from far away and um use your own time and thank you for your time. And firstly that um I just want to talk about the human humanitarian um since the 2021 coup the military hunter has finally suppressed any opposition to military rule. Uh firstly the the hunter has detained more than 30,357 people for polit political reasons subjecting them to torture and executions. Secondly, 7,738 civilians have been killed by Hunter forces, including about 1,000 children. Thirdly, gender forces have repeatedly attacked civilian through air strikes on towns, camps, schools, and medical facilities. Fourth, after seizing villages, Honda forces plant landmines near homes, places of worship, food, and water sources and ITP ru rules. In 2024, more than 1,600 casilities from mines and unexloded ordinance were recorded, the highest global for the second year running. Fifth, the genta, the haunt continues to obstruct humania. Eight. Six. All of the hunter's actions not only causes death and injury, but also spread fear, disrupt livelihoods, and worsen economy hardship. Finally, because of the haunt's action, over 3.5 million people are displaced and nearly 20 million are in need of assistance.
Thank you. >> thank you. And um, sorry I can't see very well. Blet, thank you. Uh, did you have anything you wanted to add on behalf of Baptist Australia?
>> Yeah, thank you. um the in terms of uh the situation in Myanmar um being not just incredibly distressing um from a human rights point of view obviously for our diaspora member everything related to Myamar is is complex uh in terms of composition of the country as well and uh it's of significance that last year when we had a a gathering in Brisbane of what was called the Baptist World Congress. It's an event that happens every 5 years and we had significant representation from many people groups in Myanmar that uh traditionally have a long history of conflict and difficulty tensions between them. They came together in an act of unity seeking uh the support of the Australian Baptist Church um largely at a at a point of desperation in terms of basic human need at this point. So, not neglecting the fact that there's an extremely complex geopolitical situation uh and that there's been much discussion about sanctions and and we certainly appreciate those that uh and and have supported a number of those in collaboration and campaigns with um some of those that have spoken today as well. Um but but by and large uh representing um the community here today, what I would like to to elevate to a point of um priority is just the simple basic needs. If we if if this this inquiry is focused on human rights and we regard existing as a human a right to exist um that's what's being neglected for many people in Myanmar [snorts] and we certainly believe that through creating um uh exploring various avenues regarding the modality for the delivery of aid uh in particular in consultation with uh neighboring countries as has been mentioned and suggested as well by others. um and involving faith groups in those areas both in Thailand and India in particular. Um you know we we think that there's the possibility of actually stepping into a space that has been left vacant uh because of just such a dramatic dramatic availability in funding. Um so thank you.
>> So you're so you're suggesting that there could be some flexibility in the way that we do provide humanitarian assistance in the region.
>> Yeah, absolutely. Uh it's it's obviously a challenge to to get assistance into the region and and sometimes uh the traditional aid deliveries of uh traditional methods of aid delivery being through governments um you know falls down when a government is not recognized as legitimate by you know significant portion of the country and so then that you know we would suggest that there have to that there are other possib possibilities for making sure that aid gets to where it needs to go.
>> So, can I clarify that the Australian government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not interested in that sort of flexibility at the moment?
>> I I I'm not I wouldn't want to say that categorically that they're not interested in that sort of flexibility. And um and even uh want to uh happy to put on the record as well that that in a consultation from the humanitarian department from DEFAT just last week, there's a recognition um was made that this is the most desperate uh humanitarian situation in our region >> and uh and there was interest in further dialogue. Uh but but but as far as as far as what we've made as a submission uh to this inquiry and to the last one, it doesn't seem to be much of an appetite at the moment for uh for example in providing some flexibility to DEFAT's due diligence framework. Um and and we haven't as as I said whilst $370 million over over the next three years is a very significant amount of money, we we haven't been engaged or invited in any way to uh tender for that. Um such as has been the case in response to other [snorts] humanitarian situations such as the landslides in Papa Newu Guinea a couple of years ago for
example. That's so you have been engaged for that but not for
>> Yeah. So so the the faith-based NGO actors that are part of Cand do the church agency network disaster organization y uh in situations in in areas uh places like Papa New Guinea where the church has a long history of of working with with local communities. Um it's those places sometimes the church is is turned to as a uh as an adviser even and those able to provide the best help on the ground. Well, that
that is very interesting because I am absolutely well aware of the huge role that the Baptist church plays here in Australia for the diaspora from Burma um but particularly around the world as well. Those transnational networks are so important for supporting everybody back at home and so um it surprises me that the Australian government isn't looking to that to be able to provide that support. So I just wonder if anybody might be able to comment on I guess the support that the diaspora could get here in Australia uh from the government and being able to help with
>> Yeah. Um I mean I it again for various reasons the the Baptist church is is by and large is represented best in the from from the peoples from Karen state Chin and Kachin states and um and so those those are the the regional areas that that we are probably able to speak to the fact that that we'd think if we were engaged in an opportunity to um you know to answer some of the questions that I'm sure DEFAT would have in terms of what an alteration to to to the regular due diligence framework would look like. >> Um we'd be able to to construct something creatively together. Um to a good end, not a perfect end. I I think that we need to have realistic expectations in Myanmar. Um it's incredibly complex uh at at every point of working with and serving and um and trying and and just in you know the process of um hoping to see some hope exist for folks that have felt largely hopeless hopeless for a very long time
>> very long time. Well it's the longest running civil war I believe. >> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you Senator Collins. Senator
Stubbridge. Um yeah, and thank you for the the submission too. But um I I we heard that same call really from the Myanmar um campaign network about finding non-state ways of delivering aid in Myanmar. Not going through the the juna but finding non-state actors, resistance movements, ethnic resistance movements and others and delivering aid through those non-state actors. Um I'll come back to you Re Bartlett but the other witnesses do you agree that that should be a focus for Australia?
>> Yes. Um Senator can I contribute little bit? Thank you. Um uh firstly a channel humanitarian in stabilization funding directly to trusted local governance um structures ethnic service providers and community based organization operating in resistance uh held areas. Secondly, expand cross border and uh mechanisms uh via Thailand um India and Bangladesh to bypass Chen Quanta's uh restrictions. Uh thirdly, support the service delivery capacity of organizations in area outside military control who are already providing essential services such as fun and supply community run clinics, mobile teams and referral networks including medicines and trauma care. um support intraim education systems including teacher stance learning materials and in accreditation pathways for students invest water sanitation and hygiene infrastructures managed by local administrations. Finally provide technical support IDP camp management food distribution and shelter. So uh the second thing is help strengthen local governance and administration in area outside military control such as provide technical assistance support development of inclusive local governance models training and humanitarian principles and international human rights and standards. finally support Ali warning systems, civilian evocation planning and uh evocation planning and landmine clearance. Thank you.
>> Yeah, this is now becoming a common theme. I I think I said my Myanmar campaign network was the Myanmar research cent's position. Um and and I think that that that neatly um cuts supports what your position too, Reverend Bot, but >> um but but given the shortness of time, I might just go to another point which is, >> you know, we saw with the the earthquake and the the desperate humanitarian need. Um there's this terrible situation where you know a big chunk of Myanmar is controlled by a brutal juna and you have a desperate want to provide humanitarian assistance wherever you can. So some kind of engagement with the junter is to get some of the humanitarian assistance um but one of the concerns is that when when aid is going into the the juna, it's being used as a kind of almost like a currency by the gent and being diverted for non-aid purposes. Um how do we deal with that that conflict?
Yeah, it's certainly it's certainly a great question and I'm sure is is actually the right question to be asking in terms of uh is certainly the right question to be asking in terms of what the due diligence framework that DEFAT has tries to mitigate. Um and in probably the best way that I can answer it is to say that in the bordering areas of uh Karen state and um in Chin state for example uh you know places where where again speaking from our own context and background that that the Baptist church has has significant influence and really operates as the body politic in some in some areas. Um but there's the opportunity in areas that are not uh under control from the Tapmodor um for for the network of um those in the bordering countries to be able to provide sa safe passage uh into the country and we've got evidence of that and so so there are um organized sort of institutions in uh nearby areas both in Thailand and in Misaram in India um where we would be able to to organize and administer um the delivery of aid through those areas again if there was the modality in which to do so.
>> I understand. Um could I ask the other witnesses you know when there's desperate humanitarian need like that um some engagement with the Juna to get some aid through is um you know has the difficulty of watching the Juna divert the aid use it for its own purposes politicize the aid delivery you know how do we respond to those political issues
Nug and E. I like to explain a little bit nug and e and what is like not only just only time bama in the bama bangladesh not cross border. So like like to explain that in M or Palmer and Zakai McQue me area that is Nut and E was a good just know what because it's a military keep blouting that you know aid or medication or whatever the needed area it's completely block but and you a good management and look at governance in the delivery of medication education as well they done a really good job in
back to prioritizing those non-state
actions.
>> Yes. >> And that's pretty clear from all the witnesses we're getting. >> Thanks. I'm sorry. Have we said have we have have have I'm sorry I had to step out earlier but is every witness of the the mind that one thing the Australian government could do right now is absolutely clearly unambiguously declare that the elections are invalid and that the the so-called government as a result of the elections should not be recognized. Do we say that's an urgent matter for the government?
>> Absolutely. Yeah.
>> Yes. sign before us senator as I said before so Australia the Australian government has rejected the military ch election but it's not enough not enough reconnections alone is insufficient that's why so we cu's focus today we like to request to you know the propos you know immediately permanent visa bans is we need to do because the statement in the they call a retaining author retaining authority which mean is like it's not directly indirectly recognize a government it's not government this is in the statement you know Austrian statement so this we really concerning about as well that
>> yeah thanks and I'm sorry but I know there's time thanks chair
>> uh thank you so much uh Senator Schub thank you all very much for your attendance today we are most grateful and including traveling to CRA uh questions on response Responses to questions on notice are due by Friday the 27th of February 2026. Again, our sincere thanks. I now welcome representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I understand an information on parliamentary privilege and the protection of witnesses giving evidence to Senate committees has been provided Please come forward to the table where we need to finish by midday. So, we're really operating at a a fast pace.
>> Chair, just if it assists, I can state your quarter pass if that assists. If the if you if the chair can