Present or not at Summits, Myanmar still a concern for ASEAN

Photos from the videoconference showed only nine of the 10 leaders of the bloc attending a series of virtual summits, with a blank space and bold text stating "Myanmar" in the spot where its representative was supposed to appear.

The regional bloc decided on Oct 15 to sideline junta leader Senior General Min Aun Hlaing from the summit and instead requested the junta to propose a non-political representative to represent the country, which the junta snubbed in return. The bloc also turned down the request by Myanmar's shadow government, the National Unity Government, to joint the summits.

The move against the junta was taken as there has been insufficient progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus reached during the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on April 24 to seek reconciliation and restore peace in Myanmar.

It was an unprecedented snub, but the move by ASEAN Foreign Ministers is seen necessary to uphold the grouping's credibility. Despite the country's absence from the meetings, ASEAN leaders still expressed concerns regarding Myanmar.

ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Moe Thuzar said the junta's refusal to send a non-political representative speaks more on how the State Administration Council (SAC) run by the junta in Myanmar is attempting to manipulate ASEAN's constructive engagement.

The SAC's snub reflects its reaction to ASEAN's decision to exclude the junta from the summits.

"ASEAN's message to Min Aung Hlaing regarding the country's commitment to the Five-Point Consensus, whether on the part of ASEAN or on the part of the SAC regime is a priority for helping resolve Myanmar's crisis.

"Inviting Min Aung Hlaing to the summit is not possible; it would have sent the wrong message to the people of Myanmar, and to the world," she told Bernama.

"Even so, the SAC's recent statements regarding ASEAN's decision somehow indicate the country's willingness to cooperate with ASEAN in the "ASEAN spirit and ASEAN Way", so I hope this may be an indication that the SAC recognises its obligations as an ASEAN member state and what ASEAN means to Myanmar," she said.

Founding member of Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) Marzuki Darusman said ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar has to meet with the United Nations Security Council in New York and request the council issue a resolution that consolidates the actions of the international community on one single track.

He said the resolution has to, as a starting point, recognise the illegality of the coup and the need to enforce arms embargos, sanctions, and the release of all political prisoners.

"It must commit all parties to the implementation of the ASEAN five-point consensus. Of no less importance is the great need for humanitarian assistance," the former chair of the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar said.

Marzuki and another founding member of SAC-M and former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee commented on Min Aung Hlaing's failed leadership, noting that cracks has started to show and the crisis might be at a tipping point.

"The junta has driven itself into a corner. For the first time we're seeing the junta is under considerable pressure from both within and from outside Myanmar. The junta is running out of options... But time is of the essence," Marzuki said.

In August, Brunei's second Foreign Minister Erywan Mohd Yusof was appointed as the special envoy to facilitate the mediation of the dialogue process in Myanmar. However, the junta has been stonewalling the requests of the ASEAN Special Envoy and effectively preventing him from carrying out his mandate.

Erywan, who has been tasked to build trust and confidence with full access to all parties concerned in Myanmar and providing a clear timeline on the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of the ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on April 24.

Since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown by Myanmar's ruling military led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Feb 1, there had been internal unrest with nearly 1,000 civilians killed by security forces. The fatality figure is disputed by the junta.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's exclusion from the summit was not helpful in finding a solution for the plight of the displaced Rohingya who were forced to flee the country.

Chairman of the Malaysian Advisory Group on Myanmar and Former Foreign Minister of Malaysia Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said while he appreciated ASEAN's decision to exclude Myanmar's junta, the summit has to recognise that the Rohingya will remain displaced for years to come.

It is almost nine months since the coup in Myanmar, and with no end to the instability in sight, he says it is time ASEAN and the international community step up and pursue a real solution to the long-term displacement of Rohingya refugees.

As its leaders deliberate the next steps to effectively engage Myanmar, ASEAN must also not blunder the opportunity to discuss a renewed regional strategy for Rohingya refugees across the region, one that recognises that safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation is simply not feasible given the current crisis in Myanmar.

Reuters reported that Cambodia, the incoming ASEAN chair, has said it would appoint a new special envoy and push the country's military rulers to open dialogue with its opponents.