ASEAN voices concern over worsening Myanmar crisis
One year after Myanmar’s coup which deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the other ASEAN Member States said yesterday they remained “deeply concerned” over developments in the country including reports of continued violence and deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
According to the ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on the Situation in Myanmar released yesterday, the bloc has recalled “serious efforts” made to help solve the ongoing crisis, including the recent visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Myanmar.
Cambodia as ASEAN Chair this year is expected to play a major role in driving the peace-seeking initiatives into execution.
The Member States urged Myanmar’s junta authorities to take concrete actions to effectively and fully implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) reached at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting on April 24.
“ASEAN Member States underline the urgency of the immediate cessation of violence and for all parties to exercise utmost restraint as well as ensuring the safe and timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to those most in need on the basis of the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,” the statement said.
It noted that it is of critical importance for all sides to promote a conducive condition for a constructive dialogue among all parties concerned to seek a peaceful solution to the current crisis in the interest of the people of Myanmar and in order to speedily return the situation to normalcy and prevent prolonged suffering to the people of Myanmar.
It also welcomed the appointment of Foreign Affairs Minister Prak Sokhonn as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar; and called on the junta to facilitate missions of the Special Envoy, beginning with the first visit to Myanmar as soon as possible to meet with all parties concerned, in order to move forward the implementation of the 5PC.
“ASEAN Member States reaffirm their commitment and readiness to help Myanmar in accordance with the will of the people of Myanmar on the basis of the 5PC and the ASEAN Charter with an understanding that durable peace and national reconciliation can be achieved only through an inclusive political solution that is Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led and involving all parties concerned,” it added.
The Member States also welcomed the continued support from external partners for Asean’s efforts in the swift and complete implementation of the 5PC, including on humanitarian assistance.
The United States and its allies on Monday also expressed support of the ASEAN 5PC and the efforts of the Asean Special Envoy to support a peaceful resolution in the interests of the people of Myanmar.
The statement was issued by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union and the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States on the first anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar on Tuesday.
“We call on the military regime to engage meaningfully with Asean’s efforts to pursue full and urgent implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, which includes ensuring that the Asean Special Envoy has access to all parties in Myanmar, including pro-democracy groups. We also welcome the work of the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar and urge the military regime to engage constructively with her,” it said.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES