Southeast Asia's foreign ministers have called for a “Myanmar-led solution” to the crisis that began three years ago when the military seized power in a coup that left thousands of people dead.
The call from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) followed a meeting of 10 foreign ministers in Laos on Monday, which was attended by Myanmar officials for the first time in two years.
Ministers also supported Laos Special Envoy for the Crisis Aronkeo Kittikoun's efforts to “reach out to stakeholders”.
Myanmar's generals ousted the elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power on February 1, 2021, using brutal force to respond to mass protests against its rule. In response, it triggered an armed uprising, leading to a crisis.
More than 4,400 civilians have been killed since then, and the military has detained nearly 20,000, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group.
ASEAN, which Myanmar joined in 1997, has been leading international diplomatic efforts toward Myanmar, but shortly after seizing power, a so-called five-point agreement aimed at ending the crisis was reached at a summit attended by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing. Little progress has been made since the announcement. .
The generals ignored the plan and were banned from attending ASEAN summits and ministerial meetings.
Laos, a one-party communist state located on the northeastern border of Myanmar, will chair ASEAN this year.
Khitihun visited Myanmar earlier this month and met with Min Aung Hlaing, where the two discussed “the government's efforts to ensure peace and stability,” according to Myanmar state media. Neither ASEAN nor Laos have commented on the trip, and it is unclear whether he met with anti-coup groups.
The conflict has worsened since a coalition of anti-coup forces and ethnic armed groups launched a major offensive in northern Shan and western Rakhine states late last year.
The alliance claims to have captured dozens of military outposts and taken control of major cities.
More than 2.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes during the three years of fighting.
The junta has shown no desire to start negotiations with the opposition, calling them “terrorists.” He also accused ASEAN of interfering in its internal affairs.
Laos emphasizes involvement
The ASEAN statement called for a “Myanmar-owned and led solution” to involve the Government of National Accord, the government established by elected politicians removed in the coup and democracy supporters after the regime collapsed. No details were given on whether consultation would be included. grab.
The military sent ASEAN Permanent Secretary Mala Tan Thike from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the meeting in Laos, marking the first time it had accepted ASEAN's invitation to send a “non-political” representative to the meeting.
Lao PDR Foreign Minister Sarmsai Kommasit welcomed Myanmar's attendance.
“I feel a little optimistic that this engagement might work this time, but I have to admit that the problems that are happening in Myanmar will not be resolved overnight,” he said.
“We are confident that the more we engage with Myanmar, the better our understanding of the real situation that is happening there.”
The crisis has caused friction within ASEAN, with some member states pushing for stronger ties with the military and engagement with the NUG.
A spokesperson for Indonesia, which chaired the group last year, insisted Monday's attendance did not indicate a change in policy.
“It is true that Myanmar representatives attended the ASEAN FM meeting held in Luang Prabang. The attendees were not at ministerial level or political representatives. Therefore, this remains in line with the 2022 agreement between ASEAN leaders. “It's a big deal,” Lal Muhammad Iqbal told AFP news agency.
Lao Foreign Minister Kommasit told reporters that Thailand would provide further humanitarian aid to Myanmar.
“We believe that humanitarian assistance is the immediate priority in implementing the five-point agreement,” he said, referring to the April 2021 agreement.
The plan calls for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, dialogue among all parties, mediation by an ASEAN envoy, provision of humanitarian assistance through ASEAN channels, and a visit by a special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all stakeholders. ing.
Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei, and Laos have a combined population of nearly 650 million people and a total gross domestic product (GDP) of more than $3 trillion.
Laos is the poorest country in this group and one of the smallest.
It also shares a border with China and has deep ties with China.