Yesterday I joined Greens Senator Kerry Nettle and Warringah candidate Conny Harris at the Australian Institute of Police Management at North Head, in Manly.
Over the last few years a number of Burmese police have attended training programs at the Australian Institute of Police Management in Manly.
The training is focused on senior police including the Police Executive Leadership Program and Police Management Development Program.
Kerry Nettle said "It is outrageous that this training has been taking place while the Burmese people suffer at the hands of the police and security forces."
"John Howard has talked up Australia's opposition to Burma while continuing our security and business ties. He has misled the Australian people."
"This has to end. The government and Australian Federal Police must suspend this training program."
I am sure that many Sydneysiders would be shocked, as I was, to learn that Burmese police had been trained right here on our Northern Beaches.
I want a guarantee from the Howard government and the AFP that none of the Burmese police they've trained here were involved in the massacre of monks in Burma.
I also call on Bronwyn Bishop to push for changes within the AFP preventing it from hosting and training members of police forces from non-democratic nations so we no longer aid and abet the suppression and murder of peaceful people.
Australian Institute of Police Management Annual Reports show that a number of police from Burma have been trained there over the last three years. One is believed to be Deputy Director of Myanmar Police, Lt-Col Than Soe.