ASEAN Chair Presses Myanmar Junta to Honour Quake Ceasefire

CJ

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Myanmar’s military leader to uphold a fragile ceasefire declared after the devastating 28 March earthquake, amid ongoing violence that threatens to derail humanitarian aid efforts.

Anwar, who currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), met junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok on Thursday for closed-door talks. Despite being barred from ASEAN summits over the junta’s failure to progress on a 2021 peace plan, Min Aung Hlaing attended the meeting during a stopover for bilateral talks with Thai officials.

“I told him it’s important to cease fire,” Anwar told reporters on Friday. “It’s important to allow for humanitarian efforts to cover all of Myanmar, irrespective of where they are or what political position they take.”

The military regime declared a ceasefire until 22 April following the 7.7 magnitude quake, which killed at least 3,700 people and left 60,000 in tents, according to the United Nations. Yet, fighting reportedly persists, with observers citing continued junta airstrikes and clashes with rebel groups.

Though Anwar claims assurances were made, a statement from Myanmar’s military made no mention of peace overtures, instead focusing on “rehabilitation cooperation” after the earthquake.

The junta has maintained its position that it will retaliate against any attacks, raising concerns over whether the ceasefire is genuine or merely symbolic. The post-quake crisis has left two million people in urgent need of aid and protection, compounding an already dire humanitarian situation.

Anwar also held talks with Mahn Winn Khaing Thann of Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which has called for a boycott of the junta’s proposed elections later this year. Critics argue that any vote held under military oversight would lack legitimacy in a country fractured by civil war and mass displacement.

“We are not pushing this too fast,” Anwar said of ASEAN’s approach, “because we want this sort of consensus… to ensure there is fair and free elections.”

Whether that vision can be realised remains deeply uncertain.

-2025-04-21