Myanmar junta chief to attend ASEAN summit in first foreign trip since coup

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: Myanmar's junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on February 1, presides an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

 

(Reuters) -Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia on April 24, Thailand said on Saturday, for his first known foreign trip since he seized power on Feb. 1.

 

Myanmar has been in upheaval since Min Aung Hlaing ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi. Security forces have killed 728 people, according to an activist group, in an attempt to crush protests.

 

In the latest violence, security forces shot and killed two protesters in the ruby-mining town of Mogok, a resident told Reuters, while several small bombs went off in the main city of Yangon, wounding several people, media outlets reported.

 

Myanmar's neighbours have been trying to encourage talks between the junta and the ousted government, but the military has shown little willingness to engage.

 

Several of the 10 ASEAN leaders, among them Min Aung Hlaing, confirmed they would attend the meeting in Jakarta, Thai foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said.

 

A spokesman for the junta did not answer calls seeking comment.

 

Pro-democracy politicians including ousted members of parliament on Friday announced the formation of a National Unity Government (NUG) including Suu Kyi and leaders of the anti-coup protests and ethnic minorities.

 

The NUG has called for international recognition as the legitimate authority, and requested an invitation to the ASEAN meeting in Min Aung Hlaing's place. It could not immediately be reached for comment.

 

NEW YEAR AMNESTY

The junta released 23,184 prisoners from jails across the country on Saturday under a New Year amnesty, the Prisons Department said, though few if any democracy activists arrested since the coup were thought to be among them.

 

Saturday is the first day of Myanmar's New Year and the last day of a five-day holiday that is usually marked with visits to Buddhist temples and raucous water throwing and partying in the streets.

 

Suu Kyi is among 3,141 people arrested in connection with the coup, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

 

"These (freed) detainees are mostly from before Feb. 1 but there are also some who were imprisoned afterwards," Prisons Department spokesman Kyaw Tun Oo said by telephone. He said he had no details of the offences for which they had been jailed.

 

Among those released were 137 foreigners, who would be deported, state television said. It gave no details.

 

The AAPP said the military continued to seek 832 people in connection with the protests.

 

Among them are more than 200 people, including several actors, singers and internet celebrities, who have spoken out against the coup and are wanted on a charge of encouraging dissent in the armed forces, which can carry a three-year jail term.

 

State media announced the names of another 40 wanted people, 20 of them doctors, on Saturday.

 

MOVIE COUPLE HELD

The Irrawaddy news site said film director Christina Kyi and her husband, actor Zenn Kyi, had been detained at Yangon airport as they were trying to leave on a flight to Bangkok, though it later said they had been released.

 

The NUG's vice president, Duwa Lashi La, an ethnic Kachin lawyer, said in a New Year message that the road to replacing military rule with democracy would be rough.

 

"We pledge to continue working with all ethnic peoples to overthrow the military dictatorship and establish a new federal democracy," he said.

 

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of several towns including Mogok with banners supporting the NUG.

 

At least three explosions went off in Yangon, wounding several people, media outlets reported. There was no claim of responsibility.

 

The military has accused protesters of carrying out bomb attacks.

 

The coup has also triggered clashes between the army and ethnic minority insurgent groups in the north and east.

 

On Saturday, fighters from the Kachin Independence Army attacked an air base in the north with rockets, one of which hit a nearby village, injuring one person, the Mizzima news agency reported.

 

The military has defended its coup with by alleging that the result of November's election was fraudulent, although the election commission dismissed the objections.

 

Suu Kyi faces various charges, including violating an official secrets act that, could see her jailed for 14 years. Her lawyers reject the charges.

 

(Reporting by Reuters staff;Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Kim Coghill and Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-18

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[PatOngo]

Will he wash the blood off his hands before he goes or will he wear it as a badge of honor! Why is the murderer even invited???

[Phuketshrew]

Shame on ASEAN for recognising this murderous despot as a legitimate leader.

[Excel]

2 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Shame on ASEAN for recognising this murderous despot as a legitimate leader.

Well take a look at some of the  ASEAN membership, it say it all  really

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

Shame on ASEAN for recognising this murderous despot as a legitimate leader.

Yet again this highlights how weak ASEAN is, and what a waste of time it is.

Their own rules say they are not allowed to criticise 'internal matters' of other member states.

[KKr]

sharing an article covering above raised  topics from an usually well informed and rather independent source:

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/04/15/myanmar-could-be-asias-next-failed-state?utm_campaign=the-economist-today&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=salesforce-marketing-cloud&utm_term=2021-04-16&utm_content=article-link-2&etear=nl_today_2
 

[trainman34014]

Hope this Evil little Rat is targeted by a very effecient Sniper in Jakarta; now is the time for the so called Western 'Secret Services' to lend a hand !

[harada]

Considering the fact that the majority of ASEAN countries are quasi dictatorships the worst he’ll receive is a lot of wai’s, back slaps and handshakes.  

[jjarmstrong]

I wonder which of those medals was for shooting children.

[Rimmer]

Off topic post removed

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend

  

If only!!!!!

 

[Denim]

What an idiot he looks pimped up with all that self awarded bling.

 

The sad thing is he probably truly believes that people are impressed by it , which is damning evidence of the vacuum between his ears and in his black heart. 

 

We can only hope that his demise ends the same way as Mussolinis , hanging upside down from a pretty lamp post in his phony capitol city.

[Brian Hull]

This murderous thug should be arrested on arrival and sent to the ICC for trial

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Indonesia on April 24, Thailand said on Saturday, for his first known foreign trip since he seized power on Feb. 1.

He should be asked to stay away.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, harada said:

Considering the fact that the majority of ASEAN countries are quasi dictatorships the worst he’ll receive is a lot of wai’s, back slaps and handshakes.  

Trade packs with Thailand no doubt.

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The military has defended its coup with by alleging that the result of November's election was fraudulent, although the election commission dismissed the objections.

I wonder if he'll show up in full military regalia or drop the badges and scrambled-egg for pinstripe?

[harada]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I wonder if he'll show up in full military regalia or drop the badges and scrambled-egg for pinstripe?

He must have blown away a few regiments of unarmed kids to get that lot. 

[sammieuk1]

Snipers dream on a sunny day????

[Thailand]

I see LOS is only sending a minister, wonder why?

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, Thailand said:

I see LOS is only sending a minister, wonder why?

Worried about a coup?

[Thailand]

8 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Worried about a coup?

There will be no coup----!

[zzzzz]

sources say ASEAN leaders at today’s summit attended by Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing have reached consensus on 5 points:

- ending violence
- starting dialogue
- humanitarian assistance
- special envoy
- release of political prisoners

Lets see if this comes true?
and what the junta will do moving forward? Elections??