ASEAN summit will be the first multilateral effort by ASEAN members to discuss the political turmoil in Myanmar.
By
LUKI AULIA/KRIS MADA/B. Josie Susilo Hardianto
·3 minutes read
AFP/BAY ISMOYO
A statue is seen in the courtyard of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat building in Jakarta on April 20, 2021, ahead of the ASEAN Summit on April 24.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The international community will focus its attention on Jakarta on Saturday (24/4/2021), namely at the ASEAN summit. This summit will be the first multilateral effort by ASEAN members to discuss the political turmoil in Myanmar. Some parties hope that the meeting of ASEAN leaders will open up opportunities for an end to violence and to initiate peaceful and democratic efforts for Myanmar.
In an online press conference on Thursday (22/4), a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of Thailand, Tanee Sangrat, said ASEAN was aware of the international community\'s hope that the meeting in Jakarta would produce concrete results. "Now, it is up to ASEAN members, including Myanmar, to maintain ASEAN unity and credibility," he said.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will not attend the summit, because he has to lead the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in his country. Thailand sent Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to represent PM Prayuth.
President Rodrigo Duterte will also be absent due to the Covid-19 issue in the Philippines. However, the Philippine Foreign Ministry said Manila fully supported the summit, even without the presence of its leaders.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin and Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah confirmed their attendance in Jakarta. Myanmar Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Min Aung Hlaing will also come.
Myanmar military under the command of Commander Min Aung Hlaing on 1 February 2021, launched a coup d’état against a democratically elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Large demonstrations erupted in a number of cities, followed by arrests of activists and shooting of civilians. As a result, more than 700 people died.
AP PHOTO
Anti-coup protesters hold slogans calling the attention of an ASEAN regional meeting during a rally on Tuesday April 20, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar. The European Union expanded its sanctions against Myanmar\'s military leaders and army-controlled companies ahead of a regional meeting to discuss the worsening crisis after army leaders deposed the elected government.
Great expectations
Numerous parties have great hopes for the meeting in Jakarta. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged ASEAN leaders to help prevent an escalation of the crisis and possible humanitarian repercussions.
Today, more than 250,000 Burmese have fled. "The world must act immediately to deal with a humanitarian disaster," said Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, via Twitter.
If it is not trusted, ASEAN cannot involve and help find solutions in Myanmar.
Former Indonesian Ambassador to Myanmar Ito Sumardi said Min Aung Hlaing\'s willingness to attend was an important asset. ASEAN must use it to build trust. "If it is not trusted, ASEAN cannot involve and help find solutions in Myanmar," he said.
A senior analyst at the Singapore-based S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Lee Hui Ying, said ASEAN diplomacy could increase the comfort of Myanmar military leaders to ASEAN. Thus, they want to communicate with ASEAN.
According to Muhammad Rum, a lecturer of international relations at the School of Social and Political Sciences of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, the ASEAN summit should be seen as the beginning of the democratization process. "The summit can help diplomatic efforts to ensure that democratization in the region is still being pursued. This is a step to show that ASEAN countries have never agreed to unconstitutional ways," he said.
A researcher on international political development at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Lidya Christin Sinaga, said the ASEAN summit was the first step in formulating a road map toward ending military violence, prioritizing civil society rights and restoring civilian rule in Myanmar. "Through this face-to-face meeting, ASEAN members are expected to [speak with] one voice to get involved in regional efforts to deal with the crisis in Myanmar," he said.
