ASEAN Starts to See Changes in Myanmar

JAKARTA - ASEAN has begun to read new signals from Myanmar after the elections and the formation of a new government in the country. Indonesia considers the release of thousands of political prisoners and the change in the status of Aung San Suu Kyi's prisoners to be developments that need to be noted, although the Myanmar crisis is considered not yet over.

The issue of Myanmar is one of the important discussions in the 48th ASEAN Summit retreat session in Cebu, Philippines.

Foreign Minister Sugiono said that from the beginning Indonesia emphasized that the elections in Myanmar must be inclusive and able to open the way to peace.

According to Sugiono, ASEAN also remains committed to the five-point consensus as the basis for resolving the Myanmar crisis.

"The election that takes place must be inclusive, able to address the problems there, and then also be able to bring peace," said Sugiono in Cebu, Philippines, Saturday, May 9.

After the new Myanmar government was formed, ASEAN began to see some steps that were considered positive. One of them was the release of more than 6,000 political prisoners by the new Myanmar government.

In addition, the change in the status of Aung San Suu Kyi as a prisoner is also a concern for ASEAN countries.

"I think this is a progress in fulfilling the five-point consensus," said Sugiono.

However, ASEAN has not considered the Myanmar issue to be resolved. At the meeting in Cebu, member countries discussed measurable steps to respond to the latest developments in the country.

Sugiono said ASEAN agreed that Myanmar should not be left to face its own crisis without the involvement of the region.

"Member states must continue to pay attention and continue to engage Myanmar to be able to find a path that they determine themselves in order to improve the situation in their country," he said.

The Myanmar crisis over the past few years has become one of ASEAN's biggest tests. Therefore, the latest political developments in the country are beginning to be monitored more seriously by regional countries.