Australia has long maintained a tough sanctions regime against the Burmese military regime, including an arms embargo. Yet, inexplicably, the Australian Navy recently undertook military exercises involving the Burmese Navy.

The Rudd government has given no explanation for Australia’s participation in this exercise nor offered any assurance that this act should not be seen as giving any legitimacy to the Burmese regime…

…The Rudd government must maintain a strong stance against the Burma military in the interest of freedom and democracy for the long suffering Burmese people.

– Extracted from Julie Bishop, “Broken promise on Burma”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 18 February 2010. Julie Bishop is the Deputy Leader of Australia’s Opposition. Her recent essay is a general response to last week’s Australian government statement about Burma.