Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities committed in Myanmar's Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states, as detailed in the full report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission (the Mission) on Myanmar;

(b) notes that:

  (i) following the Mission's preliminary report of 27 August 2018, the full report documents in detail serious violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, committed primarily by Myanmar's military against ethnic minorities,

  (ii) in the case of Rakhine State, the Mission concludes that crimes against humanity and war crimes have occurred, as well as finding sufficient evidence to warrant an investigation and prosecutions for genocide perpetrated against the Rohingya,

  (iii) the full report of the Mission adds to a large body of evidence indicating the commission of the most serious crimes under international law, particularly against the Rohingya, and

  (iv) the Australian Government is considering options in response to the Mission's report, including targeted sanctions;

(c) supports Australia's participation in new international efforts on accountability and justice in Myanmar, including at the Human Rights Council, of which Australia is a member, in line with the Mission's recommendations; and

(d) recognises that:

  (i) Myanmar continues to face formidable challenges as it transitions from five decades of military rule,

  (ii) as a regional partner, Australia must continue to support efforts to achieve democracy and national peace and reconciliation for the benefit of all of people in Myanmar, and

  (iii) the development of strong democratic practices and institutions, including respect for human rights, and full accountability for the human rights violations that have occurred, will be essential to this process and crucial to Myanmar's long term prosperity.