Documents reveal inside story of Australia's defence cooperation with Myanmar junta

Documents released under freedom of information laws have revealed new details about Australia's controversial program of defence cooperation with Myanmar's military.

Australia is one of a small number of nations that has maintained cooperation with Myanmar's armed forces — known as the Tatmadaw — in the wake of a brutal 2017 campaign of ethnic cleansing waged against the Rohingya minority.

Human rights groups have long campaigned against the program, and calls for it to be axed have intensified since the military seized power last month in a coup.

Pressure on the government has continued to mount over the last two weeks as the Tatmadaw cracks down on pro-democracy protesters in several cities.

The United Nations says at least 54 people have been killed by Myanmar police and military officers since the coup.

More than 1,700 people have been arbitrarily detained, including 29 journalists, and the UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called on security forces to "halt their vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters".

Now, Defence Department documents provided to the Australian Centre for International Justice and advocacy group Justice For Myanmar has shed new light on the scope and shape of military ties.

The Australian government has consistently maintained military cooperation with Myanmar is "modest" in scale and is focussed largely on providing officers in the Tatmadaw with training on subjects like disaster management and human rights law.

Nothing in the documents directly contradict that.

But they illuminate some of the challenges and pitfalls of dealing with a military that has been accused of war crimes and genocide.

One official document says, "defence staff at post in Yangon look to ensure to the extent possible that participants in our programs have not committed the sorts of human rights violations seen in Rakhine."

In a separate email chain, Australian officials try to vet two members of Myanmar's military who appear to have served with military units accused of involvement with war crimes.

However, the officials recommend both men still be offered training after concluding that neither was serving with the unit in Rakhine state during the 2017 massacres.

The documents also show Australian officials and officers wrestling with how to build links with Myanmar's military while maintaining some public distance from top generals accused of ethnic cleansing.

There's also a desire to skirt publicity.

For example, in 2019, Australian officials and military officers invited members of Myanmar's air force to visit an Australian air force transport plane due to land in Yangon.

"I am sure there will be interest from the Myanmar side, so a low-key aircrew meet-and-greet, or even look at the C-130J [if appropriate] would go a long way to show we want to engage [albeit at a low level]," writes a military officer based with the Australian Embassy in Yangon.

The documents also show no evidence of military cooperation slowing during 2017, when the army's violent campaign of repression against the Rohingya peaked.

For example, Admiral Tin Aung San — a member of the military junta and former head of the navy — was hosted at a naval conference in Australia in October 2017.

Tin Aung San has since been sanctioned by the United States government for his role in the February military coup.

The documents also provide more information about a 2019 meeting between Australia's Ambassador to Myanmar Andrea Faulkner and top general Min Aung Hlaing — who has since assumed power in the military coup.

Talking points provided to the Ambassador for the meeting say Australia encourages Myanmar "to engage with international accountability processes and pursue justice for those who have experienced human rights abuses in Rakhine State and elsewhere in Myanmar".

The document appears to suggest Australia would be willing to expand military cooperation if that occurred.

"With positive progress on reconciliation, resolving underlying issues in Rakhine state, and addressing accountability for reported atrocities, we hope to be able to enhance our Defence engagement in the future," the document reads.

The documents also provide more detail on the cost of the program. They show that the federal government budgeted $330,000 for military cooperation with Myanmar in 2019-20, rising to $360,000 in 2020-21.

But it's likely that the sum actually spent will be much lower due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has wreaked havoc with international travel.

Australian delegation given 'unprecedented access'

Advocacy groups are scathing about the program, accusing the Australian government of providing legitimacy and support to a vicious regime responsible for both war crimes and February's coup.

Spokesperson for Justice For Myanmar, Yadanar Maung, said it was "appalling and inexcusable" to maintain close ties with the Tatmadaw.

The group seized on a letter from an Australian officer thanking Myanmar's military for providing an Australian delegation "unprecedented access" to officer schools during a visit.

The delegation was discussing an Australian Defence Force proposal to roll out international law workshops for Tatmadaw officers.

"It is shocking that Australia is collaborating with military training facilities and seemingly condoning their approach to law, while there is extensive evidence that the graduates go on to commit atrocity crimes," Muang said.

"Instead of colluding with perpetrators of genocide, we call on Australia to recognise that genocide took place, join proceedings at the International Court of Justice and sanction the Myanmar military and their businesses."

Rawan Arraf, Director of the Australian Centre for International Justice, accused Australia of "dragging its feet as the junta consolidates its power and uses deadly force against peaceful protestors".

"The rationale for Australia's military ties and training to the Myanmar military didn't make any ethical or moral sense when the military was accused of war crimes and genocide, and it certainly doesn't make any sense now," she said.

Canberra 'reviewing' aid, military cooperation with Myanmar

Last month, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government was "reviewing" Australia's foreign aid to Myanmar, as well as military cooperation.

There are signs the government might be close to announcing the result of that review — but Labor has become increasingly impatient as violence in Myanmar escalates.

Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government had an obligation to act.

"Despite this escalation of violence and repression, we are yet to see any clear action from Marise Payne. This is simply not good enough," Senator Wong said.

"The Morrison government must send a clear signal to Myanmar's military leaders that violence is unacceptable, and that democracy must be restored."

In a statement, Senator Payne said: "Australia condemns the recent deadly violence across Myanmar."

"We are gravely concerned about the rising death toll, including the indefensible deaths of minors. We extend our condolences to the bereaved families.

"The use of lethal force or violence against civilians exercising their right to assembly is unacceptable. Australia continues to strongly urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence in response to protests."

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