Myanmar Military Says Special Envoy's Suggestion To Meet Anti-coup Group Is Against ASEAN Charter

Myanmar military illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's military regime has criticized calls for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy to the country to meet with agencies opposing last year's coup, which the regime has declared a "terrorist" group.

With little sign the regime will implement the five-point peace plan agreed with ASEAN last year, which includes ending hostilities and allowing a special envoy to facilitate dialogue, sparked debate on how to restore stability to the region.

After a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers last Thursday, Indonesia said it was imperative for the special envoy to meet all parties to the conflict, while Malaysia called for talks with the Government of National Unity (NUG), a group made up of members of the ousted government and others at odds with the regime. .

"The ministry noted that, while some constructive consideration was on the implementation of the five-point consensus, two members have suggested special envoys to engage with unlawful terrorist associations and groups," Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

In his first public response to the ASEAN meeting last week, the foreign ministry said the suggestion for the envoy to engage with banned groups is not only against the principles of the ASEAN Charter, but also undermines ASEAN's counter-terrorism efforts.

It is known that representatives from the military-controlled government have not been invited to the ASEAN meeting since late last year.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military toppled an elected government last year, with more than 1,500 civilians killed in a crackdown on the junta's opponents, according to figures cited by a Thailand-based activist group.

The military, debating the death toll, is also fighting on multiple fronts with armed pro-democracy groups in the countryside and ethnic minority forces.

Separately, Zin Mar Aung, Foreign Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), welcomed the call from the Malaysian Foreign Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, for special envoy Prak Sokhonn to meet with NUG.

In a message on Twitter, Zin Mar Aung thanked Saifuddin for his "strong support to find a solution in Myanmar and his clear message to the special envoy".

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia's foreign minister, said getting involved with the NUG was complicated because of the junta's objections, though said the envoy could act as a bridge.

He said his predecessor as ASEAN envoy was unable to visit Myanmar due to preconditions by some ASEAN members, which the ruling generals deemed unacceptable.

That includes access to Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the elected government that was ousted in a coup last year. Suu Kyi herself was tried on charges of multiple crimes.

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