Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Takes A Different Approach To Solve Myanmar Crisis

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. (Intermediate Archive)

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen did not seek to meet Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to the country this week, and will take a "different approach" to the crisis there. What kind of approach will be implemented?

The statement by Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn indicated that Cambodia, which is chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, may invite Myanmar junta officials to the ASEAN meeting.

ASEAN has taken the unprecedented step of excluding Myanmar's junta leader from last year's summit.

Hun Sen, who seized power in a 1997 coup and in subsequent elections criticized for a crackdown on political opponents, returned from Myanmar on Saturday after a two-day visit in Myanmar.

Her visit is the first by a head of government since the army toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government on February 1 last year, sparking months of protests and a deadly crackdown.

Myanmar's army says the takeover of power is a response to electoral fraud and is in line with the constitution.

Myanmar state media on Saturday reported that Min Aung Hlaing thanked Hun Sen for "standing with Myanmar".

Prak Sokhonn, who accompanied Hun Sen to Myanmar, on Saturday denied the trip meant Cambodia was supporting the Myanmar junta.

Instead, he said it was another way of working to implement the Five-Point Consensus -- a peace plan that ASEAN leaders have agreed to and adopted since April 2021.

He also stressed that Hun Sen had not asked to meet with Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate who had been detained since last year's military coup. Suu Kyi faces dozens of criminal charges.

Prak Sokhonn, who is expected to serve as ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar, said the current refusal of the special envoy, who is still in charge of Brunei Darussalam's foreign minister, to visit Myanmar without guaranteeing he could meet Suu Kyi, was unproductive.

"If they build a thick wall and we use our heads to hit them, it's useless. Cambodia is using a different approach to reach the Five-Point Consensus," said Prak Sokhonn.