Myanmar Coup: ASEAN Will Not Give Up on Efforts to End Violence

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will continue its efforts in trying to end the violence in Myanmar that persists to this day, the bloc’s current chair Indonesia said. The efforts to end the violence will continue despite the lack of progress shown by Myanmar’s generals in implementing the bloc’s peace plan.

On Thursday, during the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, President Joko Widodo criticized the junta for not showing any progress in the peace plan they agreed upon shortly after seizing power and overthrowing Myanmar’s civilian government in 2021. Widodo added that the human rights violations committed in Myanmar must not be tolerated and that the people must be protected and the violence stopped.

Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said during the summit that the principles of democracy and the rule of law are under the ASEAN charter.

“I must speak candidly. On the implementation of the 5PC, there has not been significant progress,” said Widodo, referring to the bloc’s five-point peace plan. Widodo also called for unity in the grouping, which Myanmar is a part of. However, the generals are banned from attending the summits.

“ASEAN unity is required to decide on the next steps,” said Widodo, making clear that “engagement does not mean recognition.”

Malaysian foreign minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said ASEAN was serious about Myanmar but echoed Widodo’s comments that unity is important in order to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the unrest that has plagued the country.

Myanmar’s generals returned the country to military rule in February 2021 when they seized power and overthrew the elected government in a coup, resulting in widespread protests. The protests also prompted a brutal crackdown by the military, killing hundreds and detaining thousands.

Meanwhile, a report by Al Jazeera found that satellite images of the region of Sagaing in Myanmar showed several villages reduced to ashes, while other villages in the region have been partially destroyed. Survivors of the incidents told the outlet that the Myanmar military was behind the destruction, saying that the military killed anyone who was too sick or old to flee, stole valuables from houses, destroyed important documents such as identity papers, and burned down buildings and food supplies.

The fires have resulted in hundreds of thousands of people in Sagaing in need of food and shelter.

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