Military coup: New Zealand suspends ties with Myanmar
New Zealand announced the suspension of high-level military and political contacts with Myanmar Tuesday_ the first major international move to isolate the country's ruling junta following a coup.
Unveiling the measures_ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for the international community to "strongly condemn what we're seeing happen in Myanmar".
New Zealand will also ensure its aid programme will not include projects that are delivered with_ or benefit_ the military government_ Ardern told a news conference.
Our strong message is we will do what we can from here in New Zealand and one of things we will do is suspend that high level dialogue...and make sure any funding we put into Myanmar does not in any way support the military regime_ Ardern said.
New Zealand's aid programmes in Myanmar_ worth about NZ$42 million ($30.5 million) a year_ would continue with safeguards that they did not benefit_ or come under the control of_ the military junta_ she said..
Myanmar's military last week detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party_ ending a decade of civilian rule.
Ardern said New Zealand wanted the UN Human Rights Council to hold a special session to discuss developments in Myanmar.
New Zealand does not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and called on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule_ Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said in a separate statement.
Mahuta said the government has also agreed to implement a travel ban_ to be formalised in the coming week_ on Myanmar s military leaders.
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