The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M)'s letter to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

 

Senator the Hon Penny Wong 

Minister for Foreign Affairs 

Government of Australia
15 June 2026
Dear Minister,

               Thank you for your correspondence of 13 January 2026. The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) welcomes your expressed commitment to maintaining global attention on the crisis in Myanmar, and your rejection of the Myanmar military junta’s staged elections.

              We write to address Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to host junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi earlier this month. Their talks reportedly focused on defence, security, infrastructure and trade, all issues of core concern to the Quad.

               Prime Minister Modi’s engagement with and recognition of Min Aung Hlaing is deeply at odds with the Quad’s position on Myanmar agreed just weeks earlier. It has compromised the Quad and its members, particularly Australia.

               Quad Foreign Ministers in their May 2026 Joint Statement called for ‘the immediate cessation of violence; the release of those unjustly detained; [and] a conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance’. Foreign Ministers added that they were ‘concerned about the impact of the crisis on regional security and the spread of transnational crimes.’

               In your January letter to us, Minister, you directly attributed this violence to the junta, stating that “Australia condemns widespread human rights abuses and violations by the Myanmar military regime, and remains deeply concerned by its ongoing attacks against civilians including airstrikes”. You added that “Australia will continue to urge a peaceful transition of power to a democratic civilian government that reflects the will of the people”, while also using international forums to condemn the junta’s actions combined with sanctions regimes and accountability efforts including through the International Criminal Court.

            Prime Minister Modi has legitimised an alleged war criminal responsible for the political imprisonment, torture, rape and deaths of thousands and the forced displacement of millions. He has risked further destabilisation of the region’s security and has recklessly undermined the path of genuine democracy in Myanmar. What is more, Prime Minister

            We ask that you raise these concerns directly with Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar bilaterally and through the Quad, and that you publicly confirm that Australia, Japan and the United States oppose India’s engagement with the junta.

            SAC-M remains grateful for your engagement, Minister, and stands ready to support your efforts. We intend to make this letter public after your receipt.

Sincerely,

Yanghee Lee                Marzuki Darusman              Chris Sidoti

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