A virus is sweeping Asia. The symptoms are heightened xenophobia and amnesia about fundamental refugee rights.

In January, Australians saw shocking photos of young, emaciated men washing up on the shores of Sumatra. Australian television showed these Rohingyas, members of a Muslim ethnic minority systematically mistreated by Burma’s military regime, describing how Thai authorities beat them and pushed them back out to sea. Video footage captured the Thai navy appearing to tow the men out to sea in their rickety boats. The world was horrified.

Australia has an often overlooked key role to play in drawing military ruled Myanmar out of its isolation, and is well placed to play a prominent supporting position in international efforts to engage the SPDC.

We write to you about the human rights and political situation in Burma and possible changes to Australia’s policy. As the United States government concludes its review of Burma policy, we believe it is an opportune moment for other key states such as Australia to also take stock of their approach to Burma and recalibrate policies accordingly.

Human Rights Watch sent a letter to newly elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd regarding Australian foreign policy with regard to Burma, China, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea and Australian domestic policy on counter-terrorism, refugees, indigenous Australians, and same-sex relationships.

Newly elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should make human rights a priority for the new government’s policies at home and abroad.

Scientists and other delegates meeting July 22-25 at the 4th International AIDS Society Conference in Sydney should focus their attention on how human rights abuses against people living with HIV undermine the impact of scientific advances against AIDS.

Australia’s government should amend laws that discriminate against same-sex couples, which the government’s human rights commission documented last week in a landmark report.