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world news Diasabra 24 aPriL 2021

Southeast Asian summit to address Myanmar's post-coup crisis

(AP) — When the 10-mem- effectively coordinate actions
ber Association of South- such as arms embargoes to
east Asian Nations holds a pressure the junta, but Russia
special summit Saturday and China, major weapons
to discuss Myanmar, the suppliers to the junta, would
regional body will be un- veto such moves.
der as much scrutiny as
the general who led the Western nations have al-
February coup ousting ready enacted targeted sanc-
the elected government of tions against members of the
Aung San Suu Kyi. junta and businesses giving
them financial support, but
Opponents of the junta are Myanmar’s past military gov-
furious that ASEAN is wel- ernments have successfully
coming its chief, Senior Gen. stood up to such pressures,
Min Aung Hlaing, to its and would be expected to do
meeting in the Indonesian so again, especially with sup-
capital of Jakarta, arguing that port from Beijing.
because he seized power by
force, he is not Myanmar’s ASEAN prefers quiet diplo-
legitimate leader. Also weigh- macy to intimidation, seeking
ing heavily against him is the incremental gains. Even get-
lethal violence perpetrated by ting the two Myanmar sides
the security forces he com- to talk to each other could
mands, responsible for killing take some time, acknowledg-
hundreds of largely peaceful es Laksmana.
protesters and bystanders.
Evan Laksmana, a researcher laysia and Singapore, believes Rodrigo Duterte both an- “I think the gravity of the
“Min Aung Hlaing, who fac- for Indonesia’s Centre for the instability engendered by nounced they will stay home situation on the ground is
es international sanctions for Strategic and International the coup threatens the entire and send their foreign min- as such now that there is no
his role in military atrocities Studies, a think tank with region as well as ASEAN’s isters in their stead, but they space or even willingness for
and the brutal crackdown on close government ties, told credibility as a group power- are dealing with serious CO- dialogue until we end the vi-
pro-democracy protesters, The Associated Press there is ful enough to act indepen- VID-19 outbreaks, obscuring olence,” he said.
should not be welcomed at a very practical reason for en- dently of big power influ- any political message in their
an intergovernmental gather- gaging Min Aung Hlaing face ence. decisions. “So I think the first steps
ing to address a crisis he cre- to face. would be to what extent can
ated,” said Brad Adams, Asia They also point out that the “It is more difficult to com- ASEAN facilitate the ob-
director for New York-based ASEAN recognizes “the real- ASEAN Charter — adopted municate on a personal level servance of a humanitarian
Human Rights Watch. ity is that one party is doing in 2007, 40 years after the between the leaders without pause first and then the deliv-
the violence, which is the group’s founding — includes the leaders being present ery of the humanitarian aid,”
“ASEAN members should military, and therefore that’s democracy, human rights, fully, particularly with re- he said. Only after that might
instead take this opportunity why the military is being good governance and rule of gards to the prime minister of a forum be possible where all
to impose targeted, economic called to the meeting. So this law as guiding principles. Thailand, whom we believe the stakeholders could talk.
sanctions on junta leaders is not in any way conferring to have the best relation-
and on businesses that fund legitimacy to the military re- “Now is a grave time for ship with the current senior A Southeast Asian diplomat,
the junta, and press the junta gime,” he said. ASEAN’s much-touted cen- general from Myanmar,” ob- speaking on condition of
to release political detain- trality, the idea that ASEAN served Indonesia’s Laksmana. anonymity because he is not
ees, end abuses, and restore By talking to the general, is a central regional platform authorized to speak to the
the country’s democratically ASEAN hopes to initiate a for regional dialogue, for He believes ASEAN has a media, said another opening
elected government.” longer-term process, starting promoting peace and stability unique opportunity to engage move is under consideration.
with ending the violence, that in the region,” said Prof. Thi- productively with Myan- This would involve hav-
The junta’s foes have pro- will “hopefully help facilitate tinan Pongsudhirak, director mar’s ruling junta “because ing ASEAN's current chair-
moted the idea that the op- dialogue among all the stake- of the Institute of Security right now there is no other man, Brunei Prime Minister
position’s parallel National holders in Myanmar, not just and International Studies at option on the table.” Hassanal Bolkiah, travel to
Unity Government, recently (with) the military regime.” Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn “We haven’t seen any prog- Myanmar for meetings with
established by the elected University. He said that con- ress from the U.N. Security the military leadership and
lawmakers the army barred Indonesian Foreign Minister ception of ASEAN is now Council, for example. There Suu Kyi’s camp to encour-
from being seated, should Retno Marsudi said at a news facing “its most severe, grave is no collective effort by oth- age dialogue. He would go
represent Myanmar, or at conference Friday that her challenge” in 53 years of ex- er countries. This is it. This there with ASEAN Secretary
least have some role in the Ja- country hopes the ASEAN istence. is the first potential break- General Lim Jock Hoi — also
karta meeting. It has not been leaders will reach an agree- through for the current cri- from Brunei — if the junta
invited. ment that is good for the Member countries with sis,” he told The Associated gives them the nod.
people of Myanmar. more authoritarian regimes Press.
“It’s unacceptable that they — Laos, Cambodia and Viet- ASEAN-style diplomacy
invite this murderer-in-chief, But skeptics feel ASEAN nam — see little benefit in U.N. specialized agencies with Myanmar has borne
Min Aung Hlaing, who has faces basic problems in seek- paying more than lip service and experts have been active fruit in the past. The military
just killed more than 730 ing to resolve Myanmar’s cri- to such principles, and have in criticizing the coup and regime in charge in 2008 was
people in Myanmar, and I sis. They point to the diver- treated Myanmar’s crisis as the junta’s crackdown. U.N. incapable of mounting suffi-
think it is very unfortunate gent interests of the group’s its own internal matter. Special Envoy on Myanmar cient rescue and recovery ef-
that they, again and again, talk members, its longstanding Christine Schraner Burgener forts in the wake of devastat-
to the military generals and conventions of seeking con- The Jakarta meeting is a hy- will not take part in ASEAN’s ing Cyclone Nargis, but re-
not to the civilian govern- sensus and avoiding interfer- brid one, with onsite atten- deliberations, but intends to fused to open up the country
ment of Myanmar, which is ence in each other’s affairs, dance encouraged but virtual take part in sideline consulta- to an international aid effort.
the NUG,” says the parallel and the historic obstinacy of participation by video an op- tions. The junta has rejected ASEAN took the initiative
government’s Minister of In- Myanmar’s generals. tion because of the corona- her repeated requests to visit in offering to open a chan-
ternational Cooperation, Dr. virus pandemic. Thai Prime Myanmar. nel for foreign assistance, and
Sasa, who uses one name. One faction in the group, Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha the much-needed aid started
comprising Indonesia, Ma- and Philippine President The Security Council could flowing.