Australia urged to end military ties with Myanmar over Rohingya crisis

Four major human rights organisations on Wednesday urged Australia to end its military ties with Myanmar and impose targeted sanctions on individuals accused of involvement in atrocities against the Rohingya community.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International (AI), the Human Rights Law Centre and the Australian Council for International Development issued a joint statement calling on the Australian government to support international efforts to hold those responsible for alleged crimes against the Rohingyas accountable.

"Those with blood on their hands, for the explosion of violence perpetrated by Myanmar's security forces against Rohingya villagers across northern Rakhine State, must be held to account," said Diana Sayed, Crisis Campaigns Coordinator at Amnesty International Australia.

The organisations also called on Australia, which is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, to support efforts to refer the Rohingya case to the International Criminal Court. They urged Canberra to help establish mechanisms for preserving evidence and assisting investigations so that those responsible can eventually face prosecution.

The renewed calls followed a UN investigation into the Myanmar military's campaign against the Rohingyas. The crisis intensified after a Rohingya insurgent group launched coordinated attacks on security posts in 2016, triggering a major military crackdown in northern Rakhine State.

More than 700,000 Rohingyas subsequently fled across the border into Bangladesh, creating one of the world's largest refugee crises.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingyas, including around 730 children, died during the military crackdown.

Myanmar's security forces have faced allegations of widespread killings, sexual violence and the burning of villages. A UN group of experts said its findings provided evidence of acts that could amount to genocide and crimes against humanity committed on a massive scale.

The UN report, presented on August 27, was scheduled to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council for further consideration.

"Faced with such a damning report, there is no excuse for inaction," said Elaine Pearson, Australia Director at Human Rights Watch.

The rights groups argued that Australia could play a greater role in international efforts to ensure accountability, particularly by using its position on the UN Human Rights Council and imposing measures against individuals linked to alleged abuses.

The Rohingya have faced longstanding discrimination in Myanmar. The country's authorities have generally denied them citizenship and have often described them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. As a result, many Rohingyas have been subjected to restrictions on movement and limited access to basic rights and services.

The organisations said stronger international pressure was necessary not only to address alleged past crimes but also to help prevent further persecution and create conditions for the safe and voluntary return of displaced Rohingyas.