Southeast Asian countries will invite a non-political representative of Myanmar to participate in this month’s regional summit. The military leaders who led the coup d’état against the democratically elected civilian government in February this year received an unprecedented neglect.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) made the above decision at an emergency meeting on Friday night, marking a rare bold step by this consensus-oriented group, which has always supported a policy of contact and non-interference. .
On Saturday, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the move to exclude General Min Anglai, commander-in-chief of the General’s government, was “a difficult but necessary decision to maintain the credibility of ASEAN.”
The statement pointed out that the implementation of the five-point plan agreed to by ASEAN leaders in April aimed at ending the turmoil after the coup d’état was “not progressing”.
Brunei, the current chairman of ASEAN, said that after failing to reach a consensus on the political representatives attending the meeting, ASEAN will invite a non-politician from Myanmar to the summit on October 26-28.
Brunei said in a statement, “Due to insufficient progress and concerns about Myanmar’s determination, especially concerns about the establishment of a constructive dialogue between the parties concerned, some ASEAN member states suggested that ASEAN provide space for Myanmar to resume its efforts. Internal affairs and restore the country to normal.”
The statement did not mention Min Anglai or the person who will be invited to replace him.
The Burmese military government spokesman Jo Min Tun said that Min Aung Rai was rarely excluded from the summit because of “foreign interference.” He told the BBC Burma branch that representatives of the United States and the European Union put pressure on other ASEAN leaders. ASEAN is made up of 10 member states, and the alliance excluded the military leader from the summit to be held later this month.
He said, “Foreign interference can be seen here. Earlier, we learned that special envoys of some countries met with U.S. foreign affairs representatives and were under pressure from the European Union.”
“Political expedient”
According to the United Nations, Myanmar’s security forces killed more than 1,000 civilians and arrested thousands in the fight against strikes and protests that undermined the country’s exploratory democracy and sparked international condemnation.
The military government stated that estimates of the death toll have been overstated.
Mustafa Izuddin, a global affairs analyst at Singapore’s Solaris Strategies consulting firm, said that exclusion is a “political expedient for ASEAN to ease international criticism.”
He told AFP, “This is to ensure that ASEAN can still play an active role in Southeast Asia’s regional reputation.”
Izuddin also stated that this move sent a “political signal to the military government that ASEAN cannot be manipulated and Myanmar must show seriousness and abide by the five-point plan.”
Brunei added that some member states have received requests from the Myanmar National Unity Government, composed of opponents of the military government, to participate in the summit.
(Al Jazeera)“Reasonable downgrade”
ASEAN is facing increasing international pressure, and the international community is demanding a tougher stance against Myanmar. ASEAN has been criticized in the past for its inefficiency in dealing with leaders accused of human rights violations, subversion of democracy, and intimidation of political opponents.
Officials from the US State Department told reporters on Friday that ASEAN’s reduction of Myanmar’s participation in the upcoming summit is a “completely appropriate and in fact completely reasonable move”.
In a tweet, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that Indonesia had proposed that Myanmar “should not be represented at the political level” until it “restores democracy through an inclusive process”.
Singapore urged Myanmar to cooperate with the ASEAN special envoy, Brunei Deputy Foreign Minister Eriwan Yusoff.
In recent weeks, Eriwan has postponed a long-planned visit to Extension and requested to meet with all parties in Myanmar, including the detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi who was deposed in the coup d’état.
Military government spokesman Jo Min Tun said this week that Eriwan will be welcomed in Myanmar but will not be allowed to meet Aung San Suu Kyi because she is accused of guilt.
Myanmar’s shadow government calls for an uprising (Al Jazeera).