2015-10-23
Thursday, 22 October 2015 FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Senator XENOPHON: Recognising that the situation is fragile—this is the first time since I guess 1990 that there has been an attempt to hold an election on this scale—has Australia, given that we are a major donor and are in good standing with the authorities there, I think it is reasonable to say, raised concerns about that systematic disenfranchisement? This is not hundreds of people we are talking about; it is hundreds of thousands.
Mr Chittick: Yes. Our advocacy in terms of addressing the large number of issues facing Rohingyas in Rakhine State and elsewhere in Myanmar is a central plank of our advocacy both through our embassy in Yangon and in our engagement with Myanmar ministers in regional fora. As I said, it all comes back to a citizenship issue, which then rolls on to have implications in terms of participation in the electoral process, but we do make regular representations to the government of Myanmar on these issues.
Senator LUDLAM: If they are not recognised as citizens of Myanmar, are they effectively stateless? What would their status be in international law?
Mr Chittick: I do not have an answer for you on that specific question. I am happy to take that specific one on notice. They have been some more positive developments in Rakhine State over the last year, notwithstanding what happened in May of this year. I think it is recognised that the Rohingya people are in a difficult situation. Many—not all but many—are not citizens and have what used to be called white cards and are now cards of a colour that is variously described as blue or turquoise.
Senator LUDLAM: What does that mean if you get one of those cards?
Mr Chittick: As I understand, that new card does not provide any more benefits than the white card did, so that process has not conferred any additional benefits. We are looking to help address the economic and political concerns we have about the situation of Rohingya, particularly in Rakhine State, and a good part of our aid program is devoted to developing the economy of Rakhine State to benefit all communities there, including the Rohingya, so that it can reduce community tensions. On the political side, as I said, it is a very important part of our diplomatic advocacy to the government in Naypyidaw that the Rohingya people should be given a clear path to citizenship. That would address a number, but not all, of the issues that the Rohingya community is facing.
Senator LUDLAM: I think that is pretty well said. Our aid budget in Myanmar took a significant hit in the last round of funding cuts. I understand that our aid commitment to Rakhine has been sustained. I do not know if it went up at all, but it was at least in large part sustained. Where was the aid drawn down as a result?
Mr Chittick: Our total ODA to Burma in 2015-16 is $62.8 million. In order to meet that new budget reality, we have had to either withdraw or reduce funding in a number of areas. One of those is to not provide future contributions to the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund. Another is to reduce our funding to the nongovernment education systems, and a third is to reduce funding to the ACIAR research fund in Myanmar.
Senator LUDLAM: What was that relating to? Sorry, I am not familiar with that acronym.
Mr Chittick: That one is a research fund for food security.
Senator LUDLAM: What a disastrous thing to have to defund.
Mr Chittick: All of these programs are good programs, and as part of our strategy to develop a new aid program for Myanmar we have had to focus our efforts on a new budget, we have had to focus our efforts on a new aid strategy, and we have had to consolidate a number of our programs to improve efficiencies. So the focus of our program will be on enhancing the human development, and that includes a very significant contribution in investment to Myanmar's education system and to promoting peace and stability. We have made, I think, very significant investments in Myanmar's progress towards peace with its ethnic armed groups, and I think that you will be aware that just last week a number of ethnic armed groups signed a nationwide ceasefire with the central government. That is the start of a political engagement process rather than the end, and our commitment through the aid program will continue on that front. The third key pillar of our new aid program in Myanmar is promoting inclusive economic growth and government management. So we do believe that we have got a very credible aid program in Myanmar. It is one that addresses a number of areas that the government of Myanmar itself has identified as development challenges and where we ourselves believe that we have got a great deal of expertise and contacts in country to be able to make the most of that money.
CHAIR: Thank you.