As New Zealand weighs the benefits of its strong relationship with Asean against the need to condemn abuses in Myanmar, it has stopped officials from the military-ruled country visiting our shores – but invited them to an NZ-funded event overseas
Myanmar officials have been blocked from visiting New Zealand with a Southeast Asian delegation, as part of the Government’s response to abuses committed by the country’s military regime.
However, Myanmar participants were invited to a New Zealand-funded trade academy earlier this month, with our foreign affairs officials confident any military members were left out.
Myanmar’s military regime has been accused of systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses following a coup in early 2021, with the country’s ongoing role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) attracting criticism from human rights advocates.
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In July last year, New Zealand joined a boycott of a counter-terrorism meeting being jointly chaired by the Russian and Myanmar militaries, despite having previously stated it could not “unilaterally make decisions” on which other countries took part in international forums.
A February briefing to Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta shows officials recommended Myanmar also be excluded from two study tours of New Zealand taking place in the first half of 2023, involving young diplomats and economic and trade officials.
In the briefing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) said the study tours were part of New Zealand’s five-year “plan of action” for Asean, with an expectation that all of the organisation’s members – Myanmar included – would be invited to take part.
New Zealand had developed a reputation “based on respect, reliability and long-held support for Asean centrality”, with that close relationship helping to secure a seat at the table for key regional forums.
“Having a voice in these discussions is critical to the pursuit of our regional economic and security interests, including through advocacy for important norms and principles that shape conduct in the region.”
As part of that broader relationship, New Zealand had continued to have limited engagement with Myanmar, but had suspended high-level political contact and condemned the regime’s actions.
Over $31 million in humanitarian aid and development had gone to the country since the start of the coup, but none of it had been “channelled through, or for the benefit of, Myanmar’s military regime”.
The Government’s “considered, case-by-case approach” allowed for work with Myanmar provided it could confirm such support would not benefit the military regime, “in the interests of continuing to support the humanitarian and development needs of the people of Myanmar”.
Officials said Myanmar would not be invited to participate in the study tours of New Zealand, mentioning immigration criteria as a factor given the need for officials to secure visas.
However, the country would be invited to participate in a New Zealand-hosted and funded Asean trade academy that took place in Indonesia earlier in May, with a vetting process in place to ensure any attendees did not have a military background.
In a statement, an Mfat spokeswoman told Newsroom that officials took a principled approach to engagement with Myanmar, “balancing our support for Asean centrality and Asean decision-making while strongly condemning the coup in Myanmar and associated violence”.
The Government’s “considered, case-by-case approach” allowed for work with Myanmar provided it could confirm such support would not benefit the military regime, “in the interests of continuing to support the humanitarian and development needs of the people of Myanmar”.
“It does not extend to inviting Myanmar officials to participate in New Zealand-based activities at this time.”
The spokeswoman said officials were confident their vetting processes had been suitably rigorous to identify and exclude participation in New Zealand-funded events by members of Myanmar’s military.
