Southeast Asian Foreign Ministers Condemn Ongoing Violence in Myanmar
JAKARTA, July 13 (Reuters) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers have once again expressed their condemnation of the ongoing violence in Myanmar, as the intensifying conflict tests the unity of the regional bloc.
Myanmar, one of the ten member countries of ASEAN, has been engulfed in violence since the military took control in early 2021 and launched a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy activists. This has led to retaliatory attacks by resistance movements and ethnic minority armies.
In a joint communique released late on Thursday, ASEAN’s top diplomats strongly condemned the continuation of violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and destruction of public facilities, calling on all parties involved to immediately halt indiscriminate violence and create a conducive environment for humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue.
The foreign ministers’ meeting, chaired by Indonesia, had previously urged the group to remain united in tackling the escalating violence in Myanmar. However, there have been rifts within ASEAN over how to handle the situation, exemplified by Thailand’s invitation of Myanmar military officials to a meeting aimed at “re-engaging” with the junta, a move that was largely shunned by other member countries.
Myanmar’s military leaders have also refused to implement a five-point peace plan proposed by ASEAN, which includes a halt to violence and the initiation of inclusive dialogue. Malaysia has called for stronger condemnation in response to the junta’s refusal.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN ministers also discussed the South China Sea issue, which involves several member countries with overlapping maritime claims with China. Although China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, attended the ASEAN-related meetings in Jakarta this week and held bilateral talks with other foreign ministers, concerns were expressed by some ASEAN ministers about “land reclamations, activities, [and] serious incidents in the area, including actions that put the safety of all persons at risk,” without directly naming China.
Amid the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and the South China Sea tensions, ASEAN foreign ministers sought to encourage all parties involved to take concrete action and work towards de-escalation and dialogue.
In a positive development, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai revealed that he had recently met Myanmar’s jailed former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained by the military for over two years. This meeting was seen as a positive step by some ASEAN member states.
However, Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, composed of loyalists to the ousted administration of Aung San Suu Kyi, has discouraged ASEAN from engaging with the junta unless it releases all political prisoners.
The ASEAN ministers’ joint statement comes at a crucial time as they navigate the complex challenges posed by ongoing violence in Myanmar and regional tensions in the South China Sea. The unity and effectiveness of ASEAN will be pivotal in resolving these pressing issues.
Reporting by Stanley; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Simon Lewis, A. Ananthalakshmi, Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Raju Gopalakrishan and Nick Macfie