Pro-democracy demonstrators have demanded intervention from Myanmar's neighbours, including Australia, outside the ASEAN conference in Melbourne as a separate summit called for wider international support.
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Demonstrators rallied outside the city's convention and exhibition centre on Monday behind banners reading, 'Stop Myanmar's Military Junta' in an effort to highlight the country's political plight.
In 2021 the army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government.
More than 4600 civilians, including women and children, are known to have since died although the actual toll is thought to be higher, according to UN rights chief Volker Turk.
The gathering came before the Myanmar People's Summit was held at the United Workers Union in the city's Docklands and aimed to call for support of a civilian and democratic government in Myanmar.
Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao said the struggle of people in Myanmar mirrored its decades-long fight for independence.
"We know the importance of international support. We must let the people of Myanmar know they are not alone," he said.
"We must support them."
Thailand's former foreign affairs minister Kasit Piromya said Myanmar had reached a deadlock after its three most recent years of violence.
"For the past 70 years, military authorities in Myanmar have tried to militarise the republic of Myanmar and so far they have failed," he said.
"They attempted to coup on February 1, 2021, which has now turned into a civil war, and the civil war has now reached an impasse."
Mr Piromya went on to urge ASEAN leaders to "come together" and act in a bid to resolve the conflict.
"What is important now is that partners of ASEAN, especially the democratic ones, come together and no longer continue to place the responsibility on the shoulders of the ASEAN community," he said.
"It has not been working well."
Protest leader and Australia Chin Association secretary Judah K Thang told AAP the international community was "blind" to suffering in the country, which he said included a lack of water, medicine and food.
"Stop immediately working with the military junta," Mr Thang said.
"We want the Australian government to support humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people."
Earlier this month, the Australian government imposed additional sanctions on companies with links to Myanmar's military junta on the third anniversary of the coup.
They included banks and businesses that supply jet fuel to the military, which Foreign Minister Penny Wong said was to limit the regime's access to funds to commit atrocities against civilians.
The opposition backed the measures and has previously called on the government to go further.
Australian Associated Press
