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JAKARTA: Southeast Asian Foreign Ministers called for a halt to violence and talks on a peaceful solution in Myanmar, where the military has seized power from an elected government and is increasing the use of mass arrests and deadly force against protesters peaceful.
Myanmar’s top diplomat briefed other foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations during a video conference on Tuesday (March 2), according to the meeting’s agenda.
It was the first meeting of foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN members since the February 1 coup, when the Myanmar military detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders.
Brunei, which heads ASEAN this year, had proposed that a joint statement be issued after the meeting. But the ministers apparently failed to agree on a statement, and Brunei issued its own president’s statement.
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“We express our concern about the situation in Myanmar and call on all parties to refrain from instigating further violence and to exercise maximum restraint and flexibility by all parties. We also call on all interested parties to seek a peaceful solution, through constructive dialogue, “the statement said.
He also said the ministers “heard calls” for the release of political prisoners and for the UN special envoy in Myanmar to play a mediating role, without identifying who made those proposals.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi led efforts to push for the ASEAN meeting. He has visited other member countries in recent weeks, including Thailand, where he held trialogues with his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai and Myanmar’s new foreign minister, retired army Colonel Wunna Maung Lwin, who also traveled to Thailand.
“This situation is worrying,” Marsudi said after Tuesday’s meeting, “it is worrying because an increasing number of civilians have lost their lives and are injured, it is worrying because there are still civilian arrests, it is worrying because this situation could threaten the transition of the democratic process “.
He called for the restoration of democracy and the return to normality. “This ASEAN meeting was to discuss and find a solution. However, it takes two to tango. The will and goodwill of ASEAN to help will not be implemented if Myanmar does not open its doors to ASEAN, ”he said.
Singapore and Malaysia have also urged the Myanmar military junta to stop the use of violence.
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Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Monday that her country was “shocked” by Myanmar’s use of lethal force against unarmed civilians, calling it “inexcusable”.
He said that prolonged instability in Myanmar would lead to serious consequences for him and the region. He urged the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees, saying that it was the only way to reactivate negotiations and return to the path of democratic transition.
Although ASEAN has long operated on a principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of others and its decisions are made by consensus, Balakrishnan said the group can play a key role in facilitating Myanmar’s return to normalcy.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein also urged ASEAN to play a more proactive role, saying Malaysia viewed the military takeover as a setback for Myanmar’s democratic transition in the last decade. He urged the military to uphold the rule of law and respect the right of the people to peacefully assemble and freedom of expression.
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“It is critical that ASEAN leads a candid discussion and engages constructively with Myanmar and all stakeholders to demonstrate that ASEAN is effective as a cohesive regional grouping,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
The Philippine delegation said, “Our call is for a complete return to the previously existing state of affairs,” adding that the first step should be the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, followed by a dialogue.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
