Jokowi: The Issue Of Myanmar Cannot Be Hampered By The Development Of The ASEAN Community

Screenshot - President Joko Widodo delivered his opening remarks for the 42nd ASEAN/Thursday Summit (11/5/2023) Retret Session.

LABUAN BAJO - President Joko Widodo emphasized that issues related to the current situation in Myanmar should not hinder efforts to accelerate the development of the ASEAN community.

The reason is, according to President Jokowi, community development is something that the ASEAN community has been waiting for.

"What I want to say, what I want to confirm is that the issue of Myanmar must not hinder the acceleration of the development of the ASEAN community," said Jokowi in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, May 11.

President Jokowi conveyed this when opening the ASEAN 42nd Summit Retret Session at the Meruorah Convention Center, Labuan Bajo.

Previously, ASEAN member countries expressed support for Indonesia's efforts to continue dialogue with various stakeholders in Myanmar in a joint statement released Wednesday (10/5).

Through this statement, member countries also support President Joko Widodo's statement in responding to the attack recently experienced by the ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management (AHA Center) and the ASEAN monitoring team in Myanmar.

"We support the efforts of the Chair of ASEAN, including Indonesia's efforts to continue the involvement of stakeholders in Myanmar, and encourage the advancement of the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus," the statement read.

Jokowi, on Monday (8/5), also emphasized that the attack on the AHA Center entourage and the ASEAN monitoring team would not dampen Indonesia and ASEAN's determination to continue calling for an end to violence in Myanmar.

Myanmar's security situation has worsened since the military in February 2021 brought down the elected government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, through a coup.

ASEAN has urged the junta to implement the agreed Five-Point Consensus peace plan in April 2021, calling for, among other things, a cessation of violence, dialogue with all stakeholders, and allowing humanitarian aid to Myanmar citizens.