Myanmar's regime rejects Malaysia's proposal for ASEAN to collaborate with the NUG

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

Myanmar has slammed a Malaysian suggestion for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to meet with the National Unity Government formed by those deposed by the military in a February 2021 coup in an effort to end the country's protracted political situation as "irresponsible and risky."

ASEAN foreign ministers are meeting later this week, but there has been no movement on Myanmar, where over 1,800 people have been killed and hundreds imprisoned in a military crackdown, owing to disagreements within the regional grouping about how to continue.

 

In April of last year, the military agreed to an ASEAN-led five-point accord to cease violence and resolve the conflict.
Around 700 individuals were slain at the time.

Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysia's foreign minister, urged on May 1 that the regional organisation, which admitted Myanmar as a member in 1997 under a previous military dictatorship, pursue informal involvement with the NUG, particularly in the area of humanitarian support.

 

He also recommended tripling humanitarian aid to Myanmar and bolstering the position and function of ASEAN's special envoy for Myanmar.

The military's foreign ministry expressed strong opposition to Saifuddin's "irresponsible and reckless" suggestions in a statement published in Myanmar's state-run Global New Light.

"Such remarks could encourage terrorism and violence in the country, obstructing the Myanmar Government's anti-terrorism efforts and infringing on international anti-terrorism agreements," it continued, noting that the generals who overthrew the elected government had declared the NUG and any groups affiliated with it "unlawful associations" and "terrorist groups."

 

In April 2021, the committee that represented the parliament that had been deposed by the generals proclaimed the foundation of the NUG.
It consists of elected officials, members of Myanmar's many ethnic groups, and anti-coup leaders.

Some ASEAN parliamentarians have also urged the regional bloc to interact directly with the NUG.

According to the GNLM statement, Malaysian government officials and members of parliament have been warned "against making contacts or communicating with those terrorist groups and their representatives in the future," as well as "against providing support and assistance to those terrorist groups and their representatives."

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They are the Tatmadaw. They are the military and they will never willingly give up the power and control.

 

The only way that they can be removed is by a greater military force than they are, and that will never happen, as ASEAN is great with words but short on action.

 

Thailand won't let it happen though their territory, just in case.