ASEAN once again condemns violence in Burma despite internal divisions

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) condemned the violence in Myanmar in a statement issued on Thursday, more than a day after the end of a summit that revealed internal divisions within the bloc.

A diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a joint statement on Myanmar was delivered late Thursday after lengthy discussions on its content and wording.

ASEAN countries said in the statement, "We strongly condemn the violence, including air strikes, artillery shelling, and the destruction of public infrastructure," affirming that they "urged all parties to take tangible steps to immediately end the indiscriminate violence and condemn any escalation."

The bloc sees its five-point plan, which has been ignored by Myanmar's ruling military group, as the best solution to the crisis, despite Thailand's recent expressed desire to pursue a separate process.

Myanmar has been caught in a spiral of violence since the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her government in February 2021, resulting in the suppression of opposition.

Despite a fresh call by Indonesia, which chaired the summit in Jakarta, for a political solution, the efforts of the ten-member bloc have failed to yield results, as the military disregards international criticism and refuses to engage in dialogue with its adversaries.

The same anonymous diplomat told AFP that some members wanted the matter to be limited to resuming discussions with the military, while others preferred to maintain the five-point plan as the basis for engagement.

The diplomat added that the dispute highlighted "deep divisions within ASEAN on the Myanmar issue."

Thailand, for example, attempted direct engagement with the ruling military group and other parties, particularly through the informal meeting it held with a representative of the military government in June, which further deepened divisions within the bloc.

On the second day of the summit on Wednesday, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai announced that he had met with Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been imprisoned since the coup and was sentenced to 33 years in prison by a military court. He stated that she was in "good health" and "encouraged dialogue."

 

 

 

 

AFP