Anti-regime Military Coalition To Derail Cambodian PM's Visit To Myanmar Today

JAKARTA - The coalition of anti-regime forces said it would do everything in its power to prevent the visit of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as the chairman of ASEAN to Myanmar, which was scheduled for this Friday.

In a statement released, the General Strike Coordination Agency (GSCB) denounced the visit as a move to legitimize Myanmar's terrorist regime, vowing to thwart it.

The group, which comprises more than 260 organizations formed to oppose last year's military takeover, said the two-day visit ignored the wishes of the Myanmar people, as well as the requirements set by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for normalization of relations with the regime.

During an emergency meeting of ASEAN Leaders held last April to address the crisis in Myanmar, which was attended by coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, regional groupings reached the 'Five Consensus Points' calling for an end to violence and dialogue among all parties as prerequisites for engagement with the junta newly installed.

"This agreement was made by ASEAN leaders, including the government of Brunei, the previous chair of ASEAN. But the Cambodian government, which is the current chair, seems to want to reverse it," said GSCB member Chit Win Maung, citing Myanmar Now January 6.

On the same day that the GSCB statement was released, four countries, including Cambodia, sent official messages to the regime to congratulate Myanmar on its Independence Day.

Prime Minister Hun Sen sparked controversy last month when he met the junta's foreign minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, in Phnom Penh and announced plans to visit Myanmar in 2022 for meetings with senior military leaders, including Min Aung Hlaing.

The announcement was met with protests outside the Cambodian embassy in Yangon, where two explosions, apparently caused by improvised explosive devices made by opponents of the regime, were reported last Friday.

Despite the threats to Prime Minister Hun Sen's safety, a Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman has confirmed the visit will go ahead as planned.

"The trip will not be changed because we trust the host country to protect the safety of the guests," a spokesman, Koy Kuong, told Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) on Monday.

The following day, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun was also reported by RFA as saying leaders of Myanmar's ousted civilian government, including ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, would not be allowed to meet Hun Sen during his visit.

The visit comes amid rising violence in many parts of the country, as the junta continues to carry out attacks against armed resistance groups active in areas largely free of conflict until last year's coup.

According to a report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in early December, the number of civilians displaced by the conflict in Myanmar has almost doubled since the coup, to a total of more than 650,000.

By bringing legitimacy to the regime, Hun Sen threatens not only the well-being of the Myanmar people, but also the stability of the region and its surroundings, according to Chit Win Maung of the GSCB.

"We cannot allow dictators to help each other in oppressing the people. Him coming to Myanmar and helping Min Aung Hlaing will threaten not only Myanmar, but the whole world," he criticized.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.