Myanmar’s military‑backed government has rejected renewed pressure from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to release former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, dismissing the bloc’s peace plan and questioning the role of its special envoy. The foreign ministry issued a statement late Saturday insisting that any release of Suu Kyi, now 81 and serving her sentence under house arrest in Naypyitaw, would only be carried out “in accordance with the law.” It added that while the government would continue working with ASEAN’s current envoy, Philippine Foreign Minister Maria Theresa Lazaro, it saw no need to pursue that path once Singapore assumes the chair in January. Suu Kyi was ousted when army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power in 2021, sparking international condemnation and years of unrest. ASEAN responded with a peace plan aimed at ending hostilities and opening dialogue, but Myanmar has repeatedly failed to comply, leading to Min Aung Hlaing’s exclusion from top‑level meetings. In what appeared to be a gesture to critics, the government recently allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet Suu Kyi — the first known contact with an independent humanitarian organisation since her detention five years ago. The Philippines, which currently chairs ASEAN, welcomed the meeting as a step toward reconciliation but reiterated its demand for Suu Kyi’s “complete and unconditional release.” The ministry’s statement defended the government’s legitimacy, claiming it had emerged from multiparty elections and was carrying out state responsibilities. Min Aung Hlaing, in a speech earlier this year, accused some ASEAN members of discrimination and said Myanmar would respond to the bloc’s initiatives on a case‑by‑case basis. The standoff highlights ASEAN’s struggle to influence events in Myanmar, where conflict continues to destabilise the region. While Suu Kyi remains a potent symbol for democracy supporters, her fate is now tied to a government determined to resist outside pressure and assert its own authority. -2026-08-10
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