Indonesian President says Myanmar human rights abuses' cannot be tolerated

JAKARTA: South-east Asian leaders on Thursday urged Myanmar's military to end violence and start a dialogue with opponents to resolve the crisis that has gripped the country after the generals seized power more than two years ago.

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed their "deep concern" over the escalation of armed conflicts and violence in Myanmar in a statement at the end of their summit in Indonesia.

"Violations of humanitarian values cannot be tolerated," said President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, this year's chair of ASEAN, at the end of the bloc's summit in the resort town of Labuan Bajo on Indonesia's Flores island.

"Inclusivity must be held firmly by ASEAN because ASEAN's credibility is at stake," he said at a news conference, reported German news agency (dpa).

ASEAN has been under pressure to take a more active role in resolving the turmoil in Myanmar after a military coup in February 2021 sparked an uprising and a deadly crackdown by security forces.

More than 3,000 people have been killed and over 1.8 million have fled their homes since the coup, according to human rights groups.

Earlier in the day, Widodo said there had been "no significant progress" in the implementation of a five-point consensus that they agreed on at a special summit in 2021 to facilitate a peaceful solution in Myanmar.

But the leaders reaffirmed their support for the consensus, which calls for an immediate end to violence, a dialogue among all parties, the provision of humanitarian assistance through an ASEAN agency, and a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar.

-- BERNAMA