Australia has suspended its defence cooperation programme with Burma amid concern about the “escalating violence and rising death toll”.
“Australia has finally ended a training programme it should never have started in the first place,” said Anna Roberts, the executive director of Burma Campaign UK. “Twelve more countries are still engaged in training and cooperation with the Burmese military. Countries providing training to the Burmese military have sided with the military, which is shooting peaceful protesters. They cannot claim non-interference in Burma’s internal affairs when they are helping one side. A military which is killing civilians.”