Less than a year after Myanmar officials were blocked from visiting New Zealand, the country’s military junta has been invited to attend formal meetings in Wellington, sparking an outcry from community representatives calling for a ban.
While the Government says there has been no change in policy towards Myanmar, observers are arguing the decision risks legitimising the military regime responsible for ongoing violence in the country.
Myanmar’s armed forces have reportedly committed systematic atrocities against civilians and anti-junta forces since seizing power in 2021, with more than 26,000 political prisoners held by the regime according to a monitoring group.
While New Zealand has previously boycotted meetings co-chaired by Myanmar, the country’s officials have now been invited to attend the Asean-New Zealand Dialogue taking place in Wellington later this month.
Myanmar community representative Phyo Sandar Soe, who fled the country for New Zealand to avoid persecution for her work as a union leader, told Newsroom she and others were shocked by the decision to extend an invitation to the junta.
“This kind of invitation could [give] recognition to the military regime, which has been killing its own people very seriously, very brutally, on the ground every day,” Sandar said.
Asked by RNZ about the decision on Tuesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued New Zealand’s position was “unchanged” when it came to Myanmar, noting existing travel restrictions on those responsible for the coup.
“We are not full members of Asean, and as a result, Asean’s preferred model is to actually have Myanmar participate, but not at a political level … it’s a mid-level officials meeting being hosted in New Zealand.”
But in May last year, Newsroom reported on the Labour government’s decision to block Myanmar officials from joining two Asean ‘study tours’ of New Zealand, designed for young diplomats and trade officials.
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, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman told Newsroom at the time, adding: “It does not extend to inviting Myanmar officials to participate in New Zealand-based activities at this time.”
Labour’s associate foreign affairs spokesman Phil Tywford told Newsroom he wanted to understand what had changed since then, given the decision risked “setting an unfortunate precedent” by giving legitimacy to the military regime.
“For three years, New Zealand has had a consistently strong and principled condemnation of the military coup … we have always demanded a return to democracy in Myanmar, and respect for human rights.”
Twyford said the democratic resistance in Myanmar looked to New Zealand as a voice for democracy and human rights, while the diaspora living in Aotearoa were largely refugees who had come here to make a new life while their families continued to face hardship.
Former Prime Minister and Kia Kaha Myanmar group convenor Helen Clark has also weighed in, saying New Zealand should refuse to grant a visa to representatives of the “internationally reviled” regime for the Asean meeting.
“Acceptance of the Myanmar junta representatives when the country’s ruling junta has been internationally condemned for crimes against humanity in its ruthless war against its own people, and is under severe pressure from the pro-democratic forces in the country, would seriously damage the international reputation of New Zealand,” Clark said.
A ministry spokeswoman told Newsroom the invitation to Myanmar did not represent a change in government policy, but “a recognition of Asean requirements when it comes to formal bilateral consultations”.
“Our suspension of high-level political and military engagement with Myanmar remains in place, as does the exclusion of Myanmar officials from elective New Zealand-based activities at this time (such as study tours).”
However, when making the study tour decision last year, Mfat officials told then-minister Nanaia Mahuta there was an expectation that all Asean members would be invited to participate – yet the Labour government ultimately opted not to issue any invitations to Myanmar representatives.
The ministry spokeswoman said New Zealand had acted quickly and decisively to express its condemnation following the 2021 coup, including the suspension of high-level political and military engagement and travel bans on those responsible for the coup and associated human rights abuses.
Sandar said the community was frustrated by Luxon’s explanation and the Government’s position, and would wait for a response to a letter they had sent Foreign Minister Winston Peters before deciding their next steps.
When Australia hosted a three-day Asean summit in Melbourne last month – excluding Myanmar from political representation but allowing Australia-based diplomat Thet Tun to attend, according to some reports – around 200 protesters demonstrated outside the gathering.
This situation requires careful consideration about how NZ can best contribute to improving the situation. Given our condemnation of the regime has been made clear, the chance to talk to them about the situation may be quite valuable. They can see the benefits of our country, and protestors can make their point directly. We might even be in a position to make constructive contributions.
What is really achieved by cutting off all ties? Does that really solve any problems? An isolated regime can be very dangerous as it loses touch with reality.
We need to remember that many of the countries we need to deal with have serious deficiencies; many people have great concerns about India, China and the United States, for instance. We have significant problems ourselves. So being open and sharing can be much more constructive than cutting off ties.