Myanmar military chief to be excluded from ASEAN summit

[steveluv]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Crisis/Myanmar-military-chief-to-be-excluded-from-ASEAN-summit?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20211018123000&seq_num=2&si=44594

Myanmar military chief to be excluded from ASEAN summit
Foreign ministers see 'insufficient progress' in Naypyidaw, bloc's chair says

The commander-in-chief of Myanmar's armed forces, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, a conference on international security in Moscow in June.   © Reuters
KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writerOctober 16, 2021 02:21 JSTUpdated on October 16, 2021 17:16 JST

SINGAPORE -- Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Friday agreed to not invite Myanmar's military chief to a leaders summit this month because of slow progress on restoring peace in the country, according to multiple diplomatic sources.

"Min Aung Hlaing will not be invited to ASEAN," said a Yangon-based ASEAN diplomat.

ASEAN chair Brunei on Saturday confirmed the decision, saying, "There was no consensus reached for a political representative from Myanmar to attend [the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits] in October 2021."

Instead, the foreign ministers' meeting accepted the decision to invite "a nonpolitical representative" from Myanmar to the upcoming summits, the statement says.

Gen. Min Aung Hlaing's exclusion from the region's highest-level meeting highlights the growing pressure on the Myanmar military government, which has been reluctant to cooperate with the international community to settle unrest in the country since it took power on Feb. 1.

According to the sources, foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc discussed the issue in a virtual meeting, in which Myanmar's military-appointed Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin also participated.

"The participation of Myanmar at the summits should not be represented at the political level until Myanmar restores its democracy through an inclusive process," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi tweeted after the meeting.

ASEAN will hold the summit and related meetings from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, which also involves the annual East Asia Summit, a regional meeting with the bloc's partners including the U.S. and China. The meetings are slated to discuss issues including security, trade and recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Friday's decision comes amid a lack of progress in the "five-point consensus" road map for a peaceful resolution to the Myanmar crisis, which the members agreed on at an April leaders meeting in Jakarta.

In August, ASEAN appointed Brunei's second foreign minister, Erywan Yusof, as its special envoy to Myanmar, tasked with mediating the political unrest. But Erywan has not visited Myanmar yet, although he had planned to do so earlier this week.

During last foreign ministers' meeting held on Oct. 4, Malaysia and some countries raised the issue of not inviting Min Aung Hlaing to the summit. The bloc was "deep in discussions" about it, Erywan told reporters after that meeting.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's foreign ministry said on Thursday that the military government was "committed to constructively cooperating in the implementation of five-point consensus."

It stated the military government was not able to accommodate the special envoy's visit because Erywan had insisted on meetings with "some specific individuals," which appeared to mean the elected leaders ousted on Feb. 1, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

The chair's statement released on Saturday notes that the foreign ministers "listened carefully to Myanmar's explanation of its implementation of the five-point consensus." However, there had been "insufficient progress," and "some ASEAN member states recommended that ASEAN give space to Myanmar to restore its internal affairs and return to normalcy in accordance with the will of the people of Myanmar."

Responding to the statement, Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun told Nikkei Asia that ASEAN's long-standing principles, such as its noninterference policy, "have [been] derailed and weakened due to external pressure."

The military government is also under pressure from international human rights groups.

In an open letter to ASEAN leaders this week, the democracy group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights called for the exclusion of Min Aung Hlaing from the meeting, citing the military's "blatant disregard" for the five-point consensus.

"It is time for ASEAN to act decisively," reads the letter, which goes on to say that this begins by denying the military government "the legitimacy it craves, and which has been rejected constantly by the people of Myanmar."

Before Friday's ASEAN meeting, the governments of several countries including the U.K., the U.S. and Norway issued a joint statement, calling on Myanmar to "engage constructively with the ASEAN special envoy to also implement other aspects of the five-point consensus swiftly and completely."

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group, 1,178 people have been killed by the military as of Friday since Feb. 1.
 

[Jamesc]

He has no shame.

[Hubwee]

Thailand Military coup no issue ... all friend friend .... can join this join that ... 

[Beregond]

3 minutes ago, Hubwee said:

Thailand Military coup no issue ... all friend friend .... can join this join that ... 

Ya.

Quite shameless  to invite the thai but not Myanmar.  Double standard is no standard.

🤐

[Kklim]

Foreign interference, foreign interference ...

[Jamesc]

He needs to take the hint lah.

[Jamesc]

34 minutes ago, Beregond said:

Ya.

Quite shameless  to invite the thai but not Myanmar.  Double standard is no standard.

🤐

I agree with you.

Kick out the Thai general also lah to be consistent.

[Thaiyotakamli]

1 hour ago, Hubwee said:

Thailand Military coup no issue ... all friend friend .... can join this join that ... 

Its all about power and money. Thailand much more powerful and richer than myanmar

[Fitvip]

This is the correct move by ASEAN, but, the land of a thousand smiles ah yut had been given too much face!

[Watwheels]

I think the keyword here is "Bloodless" coup for Thailand's example. They didnt use much violence on protesters. They even "listened" to the protesters. Their king still wield significant power and he is the one influencing the coup. Target isnt the ppl but Thaksin's influence.

Myanmar on the other hand their army and police are ordered to gun down protesters. It is a world of difference. It is a power takeover by the military. Maybe that's why the junta just released 5000 protesters who were arrested. The junta is being pressured by the international countries. 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Watwheels

[Didu]

Brunei sultan sent his man as ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar, but came back empty handed, no give face. I think sultan damn pissed off. 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Didu

[ToyotaShuttle]

Wah, cannot go ASEAN summit? But if he is sick, can he still come to Singapore for treatment?

We no discrimination one right? Mass murderer we will also treat unless they have no money.

[Kopites]

14 hours ago, Beregond said:

Ya.

Quite shameless  to invite the thai but not Myanmar.  Double standard is no standard.

🤐

Our general were at least so called democratically elected. 🤣

 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Kopites

[Beregond]

3 hours ago, Kopites said:

Our general were at least so called democratically elected. 🤣

 

our general even worst ,

How many of them take up key position / political position after their military career by merit?? 

Soon we will be running our country like running an army camp 

[Didu]

Looks like the democratic camp needs to find a new leader.

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced to 4 years in prison

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to four years in prison on Monday (Dec 6), the first in a series of possible verdicts that could see the Nobel laureate imprisoned for decades. A court found her guilty of incitement against the military and breaching COVID-19 restrictions. 

Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, has since been hit with a series of charges, including corruption, electoral fraud and violating the official secrets act, and could face decades in jail if convicted on all counts. On Monday, Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years' jail for incitement against the military and another two years for breaching a natural disaster law relating to COVID-19, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP by phone.

Former president Win Myint was also jailed for four years on the same charges, he said, but added they would not yet be taken to prison.

"They will face other charges from the places where they are staying now", Zaw Min Tun added, referring to the pair's detention in the capital of Naypyidaw but without giving further details.

 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/aung-san-suu-kyi-myanmar-jail-sentence-junta-2360956

[Didu]

Junta: "Help! We're being terrorized by our citizens. Please come help us hantam them!"  😁

Myanmar asks Interpol to help fight 'terrorism'; global body says it will not interfere

Global police body Interpol said on Thursday (Feb 10) it will not provide help to countries in situations that involve domestic politics, days after the Myanmar army announced it had sought support. The Myanmar army's foreign affairs ministry said on Tuesday it had called on various international security organisations to work with Myanmar to fight "terrorism", citing the actions of its opponents, including the National Unity Government (NUG), the country's de facto shadow government. 

Responding to CNA queries, an Interpol spokesperson said it does not comment on specific cases or specific activities of a member country, apart from in exceptional circumstances. But the statement added: "Interpol will not provide assistance for any requests which might draw the organisation into matters involving domestic politics such as notices requested for political opponents, critics of a government, or in the context of a coup d'etat, etc."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-asks-interpol-help-fight-terrorism-will-not-interfere-2489621

[Didu]

'Annihilate'??   Not what ASEAN is hoping for right? This is going to be a tough nut to crack.

Myanmar army says it will 'annihilate' coup opponents on crackdown anniversary

Myanmar's junta will "annihilate" coup opponents, army chief Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday (Mar 27) as the military staged a show of force on the anniversary of its bloodiest crackdown so far on democracy protests. The military will "no longer negotiate ... and annihilate until the end" groups fighting to overturn its rule, he said ahead of the Armed Forces Day procession in the army-built capital Naypyidaw.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-army-says-it-will-annihilate-coup-opponents-crackdown-anniversary-2589286

[Didu]

They're not really thinking. They are procrastinating. No one in the group dares to make a call. Especially the current chair.

ASEAN to rethink peace plan if Myanmar executes more prisoners: Chair

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be forced to reconsider a peace plan agreed with Myanmar if the country's military rulers execute more prisoners, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Wednesday (Aug 3). The 10-nation bloc had been pushing for Myanmar to adhere to a five-point peace "consensus" agreed last year and has condemned the recent execution of four democracy activists by the junta.

"If more prisoners are executed, we will be forced to rethink ... our role vis a vis ASEAN's five-point consensus," said Hun Sen, who is ASEAN's current chair and was speaking at the start of a meeting of the group's foreign ministers.

Hun Sen said ASEAN's unity had been challenged by the political and security implications of the situation in Myanmar, which has spiralled into an economic and humanitarian crisis. The prime minister said that while the five-point consensus had "not advanced to everyone's wishes" there had been some progress including in providing humanitarian aid. But he went on to say the current situation had "changed dramatically" and could be seen as even worse than before the peace agreement because of the junta's execution of the activists.

Cambodia along with other ASEAN member states "are deeply disappointed and disturbed by the execution of those opposition activists, despite the appeals from me and others for the death sentences to be reconsidered", said Hun Sen.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/asean-myanmar-rethink-peace-plan-execution-prisoners-2854766