ASEAN Leaders Call for End to Hostilities in Myanmar

[webfact]

 

by Krajangwit Johjit
    
BANGKOK (NNT) - Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), during a recent meeting, called for an immediate end to the hostilities in Myanmar, urging for a window of opportunity for dialogue and aid delivery.

 

ASEAN leaders expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Myanmar and called for an immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force. They also demanded a conducive environment for the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogues.

 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the current chair of ASEAN, emphasized that the bloc should take a more assertive stance on the Myanmar issue.

 

The ASEAN policy of non-interference in member affairs has been challenged, and the bloc has become increasingly firm with Myanmar’s junta, which has failed to execute the five-point peace consensus agreed with ASEAN after its coup caused chaos. Indonesia has also been quietly involved in talks with Myanmar’s military, its shadow government, and armed ethnic groups to initiate peace talks.

 

Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters that the situation in Myanmar presents an unprecedented challenge to ASEAN’s unity, and it is practically functioning with only nine of its ten members.

 

According to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the meeting was also expected to discuss a code of conduct for the South China Sea and growing tensions over Taiwan. However, it is unclear if these topics were eventually tabled.

 

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230511114821630

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-05-11

 

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[KannikaP]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

and called for an immediate cessation of all forms of violence and the use of force.

Could they not include Ukraine as well?

[trainman34014]

Pissing in the Wind comes to mind !

[Karma80]

All ASEAN achieves is to highlight the dysfunctional governments of most of the members and how useless it is. A group of like-minded dictatorships, authoritarian one-party rulers, and patronage psuedo democracies.

[Hamus Yaigh]

So no more dropping vacuum bombs on their own people as they did last month? Sounds reasonable, but I have my doubts.

[dinsdale]

End hostilities started by a junta. Well easy. Army get out. Have free and fair elections as that's the only way it will stop. This is just tacit support for the coup. Look at SEA and tell me if there is one democratic country. This entire region is corrupt to the bone.

[ThailandRyan]

My GF, who is ethnic Karen, and from the areas where the Burmese (Myanmar) military are constantly attacking, has lost many friends to this ethnic cleansing.  Yes Ethnic cleansing is what it is.  They  have tried to expel or rid the country of as many of the ethnic groups as they can.  These are war crimes and my GF believes that the Military has already sold much of the country to China and China is directing these actions.  Until the indiscriminate killings stop and the country tries to regain some form of democracy my GF and her family now in Thailand are scared to return.

 

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-military-rule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya

 

Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has struggled with military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty. A military coup in February 2021 dashed hopes for democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian nation.

[Thailand]

I guess the Tatmadaw will end hostilities and stop murdering their people tomorrow then!

[h90]

30 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

My GF, who is ethnic Karen, and from the areas where the Burmese (Myanmar) military are constantly attacking, has lost many friends to this ethnic cleansing.  Yes Ethnic cleansing is what it is.  They  have tried to expel or rid the country of as many of the ethnic groups as they can.  These are war crimes and my GF believes that the Military has already sold much of the country to China and China is directing these actions.  Until the indiscriminate killings stop and the country tries to regain some form of democracy my GF and her family now in Thailand are scared to return.

 

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-military-rule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya

 

Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has struggled with military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty. A military coup in February 2021 dashed hopes for democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian nation.

One of our staff from Myanmar who was previously very much against the military softened as they protected them against the Rohingya. But pretty much everyone hates everyone....Everyone has death from this conflict in the family. And as it seems every ethnic group has some paramilitary structures. I think China is the only hope to stop that, by building factories, improving economic situation and and holding every group down for a while till everything cools down.

[dinsdale]

30 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

My GF, who is ethnic Karen, and from the areas where the Burmese (Myanmar) military are constantly attacking, has lost many friends to this ethnic cleansing.  Yes Ethnic cleansing is what it is.  They  have tried to expel or rid the country of as many of the ethnic groups as they can.  These are war crimes and my GF believes that the Military has already sold much of the country to China and China is directing these actions.  Until the indiscriminate killings stop and the country tries to regain some form of democracy my GF and her family now in Thailand are scared to return.

 

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-military-rule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya

 

Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has struggled with military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty. A military coup in February 2021 dashed hopes for democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian nation.

Agree 100% And the world has turned it's back on them. An absolute disgrace. Happening in lots of places but as long as it's lives lost and not money or some percieved military stategic advantage then it will continue. Again shame. Shame on the useless ASEAN and shame on the entire greedy, self serving, power hungry govts. Rant is now finished.

[simon43]

I read today that there was an attack on the Chinese oil pipeline that brings oil to China from a port in north-west Myanmar. IMHO, this is the way to go.  China is the only party with the strength to end or drastically reduce the violence in Myanmar.  The only thing that matters to China is money and it's investments.  Put those at risk and China will act.

 

Would they act against the ethnic armies who launched the attack on the pipeline?  China must realise that it is totally impossible to protect that pipeline from attacks by the pdf or ethnic armies.  It would be better to get those armies on China's side, and that can only be achieved if China stops supporting the junta.  The junta cannot protect the pipeline, as has been demonstrated today and by previous attacks.

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

My GF, who is ethnic Karen, and from the areas where the Burmese (Myanmar) military are constantly attacking, has lost many friends to this ethnic cleansing.  Yes Ethnic cleansing is what it is.  They  have tried to expel or rid the country of as many of the ethnic groups as they can.  These are war crimes and my GF believes that the Military has already sold much of the country to China and China is directing these actions.  Until the indiscriminate killings stop and the country tries to regain some form of democracy my GF and her family now in Thailand are scared to return.

 

https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/myanmar-history-coup-military-rule-ethnic-conflict-rohingya

 

Throughout its decades of independence, Myanmar has struggled with military rule, civil war, poor governance, and widespread poverty. A military coup in February 2021 dashed hopes for democratic reforms in the Southeast Asian nation.

Yes indeed. China relies on Burma's rich natural resources, especially oil and gas which is pumped from Sittwe in the Bay of Bengal across Burma to Kunming in China. The country has a very big influence in Burma.

Reference (Google):

 

Since 1989, China has supplied Myanmar with jet fighters, armored vehicles and naval vessels and has trained Burmese army, air force and naval personnel. Access to Myanmar's ports and naval installations provide China with strategic influence in the Bay of Bengal, in the wider Indian Ocean region and in Southeast Asia.

Of all its trading partners, Myanmar traded most with China, which accounted for over 26 percent of total trade volume.Dec 19, 2022

 

[zzaa09]

4 hours ago, Karma80 said:

All ASEAN achieves is to highlight the dysfunctional governments of most of the members and how useless it is. A group of like-minded dictatorships, authoritarian one-party rulers, and patronage psuedo democracies.

Birds of a feather comes to mind. 

[heybruce]

"The ASEAN policy of non-interference in member affairs has been challenged, and the bloc has become increasingly firm with Myanmar’s junta, which has failed to execute the five-point peace consensus agreed with ASEAN after its coup caused chaos."

 

"increasingly firm"?  I assume that means more words and nothing else.