Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the ethnic and sectarian unrest in parts of Myanmar, including in the states of Rakhine, Kachin and Shan, in the Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon regions,

(ii) that in Rakhine State in particular, this has created significant humanitarian concerns given the current monsoon season,

(iii) that Human Rights Watch recently released a report on the unrest in Rakhine State in 2012 and the situation of Rohingya Muslims there,

(iv) That the Australian Government continues to assist affected people in Rakhine State through direct humanitarian assistance, and in 2012-13 provided over $5.79 million in humanitarian assistance to Rakhine State, making Australia one of the largest donors to the crisis, and

(v) That the Myanmar Government and the Kachin Independence Organisation recently reached an agreement on 30 May 2013 following peace talks in Myitkyina (Kachin State), to de-escalate and cease hostilities; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to:

(i) urge the Myanmar Government to:

  (A) redouble its efforts to resolve ethnic and sectarian unrest in parts of Myanmar,

  (B) resolve the underlying causes of unrest,

  (C) bring to justice those responsible,

  (D) ensure proper judicial procedures are applied, and

  (E) support the reconciliation of local communities, and

(ii) continue to urge the Myanmar Government to provide appropriate humanitarian assistance, including adequate shelter, and access by humanitarian organisations, to those affected by the unrest.