Indonesia Regrets The Lack Of Progress Of The Five-point Consensus In Myanmar

The Myanmar Military Junta has not been serious about implementing the Five-Point consensus from ASEAN. (photo: doc. between)

JAKARTA – The lack of progress made by the Myanmar Military Junta government to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, until this February, is very unfortunate for the Government of Indonesia.

Indonesia is now urging the Myanmar military to immediately follow up on the consensus agreed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help resolve the crisis caused by the coup in the country.

“As a family, ASEAN has reached out to help, through the Five-Point Consensus. It's a pity, until now there has been no significant progress on the implementation of the consensus," said the statement released by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, exactly one year since the military takeover of power in Myanmar.

Therefore, Indonesia urges the Myanmar military to immediately provide access to the ASEAN Special Envoys to be able to start their work according to the mandate of the ASEAN leaders through the Five-Point Consensus.

"Indonesia will continue to provide assistance and attention to the safety and welfare of the Myanmar people," said the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indonesia also appreciates international support for the ASEAN consensus.

It was previously reported that ASEAN Foreign Ministers will discuss the provision of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar at a meeting hosted by Cambodia on 15-16 February 2022.

Cambodian Foreign Minister and ASEAN special envoy Prak Sokhonn are also preparing for their first visit to Myanmar.

"The priority is to implement the Five-Point Consensus which was agreed unanimously and will be discussed during the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers meeting," Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement last week.

The Myanmar military's coup against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi is a setback for ASEAN and its efforts to present itself as a credible and integrated association.

ASEAN then took the surprising step of not including the Myanmar junta in important meetings, due to its failure to respect the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus which included ending violence and allowing dialogue with all parties.

Myanmar has been in crisis since the military toppled an elected government almost a year ago, with nearly 1,500 civilians killed in the junta's crackdown on political opponents.

Military troops in the countryside also fought with pro-democracy militias and ethnic minority soldiers.

As ASEAN Chair this year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged Myanmar's junta to allow visits by ASEAN's special envoys to the country and support access to humanitarian aid distribution.

Hun Sen, who was on a video call with Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, also called on all parties including the Myanmar government to stop the violence and reach a ceasefire.