Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Australia has raised our grave concerns about the military coup in Myanmar and the escalating violence and rising death toll following the events of 1 February,” Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement released late on Sunday night.
“We condemn the use of lethal force or violence against civilians exercising their universal rights,including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Australia has had a limited bilateral Defence Cooperation Program with Myanmar’s military,restricted to non-combat areas such as English language training. This program will be suspended.”
Senator Payne’s statement coincided with further violence on Sunday in Myanmar’s former capital,Bagan,where police again opened fire on demonstrators,injuring several,according to witness accounts and videos posted to social media.
Large protests have occurred daily across many cities and towns in Myanmar,and security forces have responded with greater use of lethal force and mass arrests.
Protesters are dispersed as riot police fired tear gas behind a makeshift barricade in Yangon.Credit:AP