Australia eases Myanmar sanctions
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Australia is lifting some of its sanctions on Myanmar, as politicians in Canberra join the growing group of leaders looking for ways to encourage the south-east Asian nation’s move towards democracy.
The decision comes two weeks after elections in Myanmar that saw significant victories for the opposition, led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The US lifted some of its financial and travel restrictions on the country’s leaders a few days after that vote. The US sanctions are the most comprehensive ones restricting trade and investment in Myanmar, although observers caution that loosening them will be complicated as the move must be approved by Congress, where support for lifting sanctions is not guaranteed.
Australia will remove financial sanctions and travel restrictions imposed on Myanmar’s civilian leaders, but will keep those in place against military figures and “individuals of human rights concerns”, the foreign ministry said. Australia will maintain its embargo on the sale of arms to Myanmar.
Bob Carr, Australia’s foreign minister, said that “reducing our sanctions and encouraging trade recognise the far-reaching political, economic and social reforms we are witnessing in Burma [Myanmar] in recent times”.
Removing sanctions could create new opportunities for Australian companies. The country’s trade minister said Australia would also discontinue its former policy of “neither encouraging nor discouraging” investment in Myanmar, which had meant that Australia did not block trade with Burma but did not offer companies assistance or advice on their work there.
“I welcome the opportunities that normalised trade ties will present for the Burmese people and Australian companies,” said the minister, Craig Emerson.
Australian sanctions had discouraged business but were not as comprehensive as US or European Union measures against Myanmar, said Trevor Wilson, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar. Energy groups, including Twinza Oil, had operated in the country, and Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary Jetstar flew into Yangon.
Mr Wilson said he expected mining, tourism and schools offering Burmese students the chance to study in Australia would be the first to expand their work in Myanmar.
British prime minister David Cameron hinted last week during a visit to Myanmar that the UK is also likely to support the easing of sanctions on the country.
Since by-elections in Myanmar on April 1, which gave 43 seats to the opposition National League for Democracy, some European nations have called for the removal of sanctions. The EU will make a formal decision on whether to renew its sanctions on the country by April 23, and the EU’s foreign affairs chief will visit the country on April 28.
The decision comes two weeks after elections in Myanmar that saw significant victories for the opposition, led by Aung San Suu Kyi.
The US lifted some of its financial and travel restrictions on the country’s leaders a few days after that vote. The US sanctions are the most comprehensive ones restricting trade and investment in Myanmar, although observers caution that loosening them will be complicated as the move must be approved by Congress, where support for lifting sanctions is not guaranteed.
Australia will remove financial sanctions and travel restrictions imposed on Myanmar’s civilian leaders, but will keep those in place against military figures and “individuals of human rights concerns”, the foreign ministry said. Australia will maintain its embargo on the sale of arms to Myanmar.
Bob Carr, Australia’s foreign minister, said that “reducing our sanctions and encouraging trade recognise the far-reaching political, economic and social reforms we are witnessing in Burma [Myanmar] in recent times”.
Removing sanctions could create new opportunities for Australian companies. The country’s trade minister said Australia would also discontinue its former policy of “neither encouraging nor discouraging” investment in Myanmar, which had meant that Australia did not block trade with Burma but did not offer companies assistance or advice on their work there.
“I welcome the opportunities that normalised trade ties will present for the Burmese people and Australian companies,” said the minister, Craig Emerson.
Australian sanctions had discouraged business but were not as comprehensive as US or European Union measures against Myanmar, said Trevor Wilson, a former Australian ambassador to Myanmar. Energy groups, including Twinza Oil, had operated in the country, and Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary Jetstar flew into Yangon.
Mr Wilson said he expected mining, tourism and schools offering Burmese students the chance to study in Australia would be the first to expand their work in Myanmar.
British prime minister David Cameron hinted last week during a visit to Myanmar that the UK is also likely to support the easing of sanctions on the country.
Since by-elections in Myanmar on April 1, which gave 43 seats to the opposition National League for Democracy, some European nations have called for the removal of sanctions. The EU will make a formal decision on whether to renew its sanctions on the country by April 23, and the EU’s foreign affairs chief will visit the country on April 28.
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