Calls Not Banning ASEAN Special Envoys To Visit Myanmar, Military Regime Bans Meetings With Aung San Suu Kyi

JAKARTA - Myanmar's ruling military regime says it has not prevented a special Southeast Asian envoy from visiting the country, but will not allow him to meet detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, because she has been charged with crimes, a regime spokesman said.

In addition, spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said the UN's delay in approving the nomination of UN ambassadors from military regimes was politically motivated, saying the UN and other countries and organizations should avoid double standards when they are involved in international affairs.

The spokesman's statement, issued by the military regime in a summary dated Wednesday, comes as international pressure is mounting on the regime to implement the Five-Point Consensus peace plan agreed by its top general Min Aung Hlaing in April with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The junta spokesman also stressed that Myanmar's judicial system would handle Aung San Suu Kyi's case fairly and independently, adding that the chief judge was appointed by the previous government.

Myanmar has been in political and economic paralysis since the February 1 military coup, which sparked an outpouring of anger and protests that have not subsided, with some civilians forming militias to confront the powerful army.

Previously, the ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Erywan Yusof, said in his statement that the Myanmar military regime's inaction in implementing the Five Consensus Points was tantamount to a setback.

Erywan, Brunei's second foreign minister and chair of ASEAN, the association is in deep discussions not to invite the Myanmar military regime to participate in a virtual summit on October 26-28, after the issue was raised by Malaysia and several other member states.

"Until today, there has been no progress in the implementation of the five-point consensus deliberation, and this raises concerns," said Erywan.

The Myanmar Coup. VOI editors continue to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.