Almost 400 Myanmar civil society organisations wrote to Australia’s Foreign Minister this week, accusing Australia of “shameful inaction”.
The groups are urging the Morrison government to impose sanctions on army generals who staged the February coup.
Christopher Lamb is the President of the Australia Myanmar Institute and a former Australian diplomat who served as Ambassador to Myanmar.
He is calling on the Australian government to impose sanctions on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar’s military.
“The hope would be, that by putting sanctions on Min Aung Hlaing, it would bring other people in the senior military ranks to realise that Min Aung Hlaing was not the future for the country or for them,” Mr Lamb told Ticker News.
DFAT says imposing additional sanctions could limit Canberra’s influence.
But Mr Lamb says he hasn’t “seen any evidence at all that we’ve been able to exercise any influence of any value”.
“At a point you need to consider where Australia should be moving, both publicly and privately, to secure its objectives in the region. I’m not satisfied yet that the Australian government has identified clearly enough what those objectives are.”
Australian man Sean Turnell, who worked as an economic adviser to the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was taken into custody in February.
Mr Lamb believes the military may see him as “someone who can help them as they consolidate their case against Aung San Suu Kyi”.
“It doesn’t surprise me that this military hasn’t released him. I think they want him for reasons unconnected with his potential guilt, and I don’t think he’s got anything to do with the situation that has come about in the country or has led to it.”
Authorities in South Africa are investigating the deaths of 22 people, who were mysteriously found in a nightclub
Victims were found spread across the tables and floors in a coastal town.
They have been taken for testing, as authorities scramble to find a cause of death.
South Africa’s President is sending his “deepest condolences” to families of the victims, most of whom are teenagers.
The tragedy has taken place during Youth Month, where South Africa pushes for more opportunities to help young people from poor socio-economic backgrounds.