Australia thanks the Special Rapporteur for his update.

Australia is deeply concerned by the devastating and deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar and the ongoing violence inflicted by the military regime on the civilian population. We condemn the military regime’s reported plans to execute pro-democracy leaders and activists. Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances for all people.

We urge the military regime to cease violence, engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders, immediately release all those unjustly detained, including Australian Professor Sean Turnell, and honour its commitments to ASEAN leaders to implement the Five-Point Consensus.

We commend the work of the Special Rapporteur and the other Special Procedures mandate holders on highlighting the regime’s attempts to establish a ‘digital dictatorship’ in Myanmar. The regime’s restrictions on the internet have denied the Myanmar people their fundamental rights and have shrouded the regime’s atrocities in darkness.

We call on the regime to lift barriers to internet access and end its invasive surveillance in Myanmar.

How can States best support civil society initiatives to counter censorship and surveillance in Myanmar?