Ahead Of The ASEAN Summit: The Peace Crisis In Myanmar Becomes A Krucial Issue Of The Southeast Asian Region

President Jokowi at the 38th ASEAN Summit at Begawan Seri Bandar, Brunei Darussalam on October 26, 2021. (Between)

JAKARTA - Before starting the G20 Summit in Bali on November 15-16, 2022, President Jokowi will first attend the ASEAN Summit at Phnom Penh, Cambodia on November 10-13, 2022.

The President, previously proposed to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as Chair of ASEAN to prioritize also discussing the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus to help resolve the Myanmar crisis.

So far, according to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN member countries have held meetings and compiled recommendations regarding the implementation of the consensus, which until now has not made any significant progress.

Instead of progress, the situation is even said to be deteriorating. The language used by the chair is 'deteriorating and destroying'. This is a reflection of what the ASEAN Foreign Ministers have said," said Retno, as quoted by Antara on October 27, 2022.

Of course it is very unfortunate. The Five-Point Consensus was the decision of the ASEAN leaders. It was the result of a previous special meeting. General Min Aung Hlaing as the takeover of power in Myanmar, said Retno, was also present at the time,

The Five-Point Consensus was agreed on April 24, 2021. The consensus calls for: the termination of violence; dialogue with all stakeholders;, appointing a special envoy to facilitate mediation and dialogue; allowing ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar citizens; and allowing ASEAN special envoys to visit and meet with stakeholders in Myanmar.

Maintaining peace in the ASEAN region is an important point in advancing strong cooperation. The conflict that occurs in Myanmar certainly has an impact on ASEAN countries, including Indonesia. Examples related to the flow of refugees.

According to the Advisor to the Ministry of Human Rights of the Myanmar National Unity Government (NUG), Aung Kyaw Moe, the suffering of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia and Bangladesh has not stopped. It is also impossible that other ethnicities will suffer the same suffering.

That is why, in a virtual discussion on the 5th anniversary of the Rohingya ethnic genocide on August 25, Moe called on Indonesia to make more efforts to resolve humanitarian issues in Myanmar.

The request was made in Indonesia's capacity which will hold the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023.

"I think the Indonesian government needs to do more to ensure (this problem) is resolved. What happened, namely genocide, has happened yesterday, but may happen again tomorrow," Moe said.

Myanmar is currently led by the military that carried out the coup in February 2021. A number of Myanmar politicians have repeatedly called on ASEAN countries not to deal with the NUG, namely the military group that toppled the Myanmar government. Because they are terrorists.

However, said Retno, an approach with the military junta was solely made to implement consensus and was not an acknowledgment of the junta as Myanmar's government.

The engagement with the Myanmar military junta has nothing to do with the issue of recognition. We believe that only with the engagement of all stakeholders, ASEAN will be able to carry out its function of facilitating dialogue. And this national dialogue is expected to be able to discuss Myanmar's future," said Retno.

The domestic problems in Myanmar can only be resolved by themselves.

"Therefore, dialogue between them is very important, ASEAN's job is only to facilitate," said Retno.

In a speech on state television on August 1, Myanmar's junta leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, agreed to carry out these consensus points this year under the ASEAN framework.

"We were unable to fulfill the consensus last year due to a lack of stability that was partly caused by the coronavirus pandemic," he said.

In addition to consensus, Foreign Ministers at the ASEAN Summit will also exchange views on regional and international important issues, especially those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and world political tensions. Also, encouraging real cooperation with dialogue partners at various meetings at the relevant ministerial level.

The ASEAN Summit will also discuss ways to advance the development of the ASEAN Community which is centered on the people and overcome challenges along with the theme ASEAdressing Challenges Together (ASEAN ACT). Strengthening ASEAN centrality and solidarity amidst regional and global uncertainty and challenges.