The Issue of Myanmar Splits ASEAN

Thailand held a forum of ASEAN member countries to hear the official Myanmar Foreign Minister. The foreign ministers of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia were not present.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo shook hands while thanking the journalists after providing a statement to the press regarding the results of the 42nd ASEAN High-Level Conference (HLC) in Labuan Bajo, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara on Thursday (11/5/2023). The President conveyed that one of the important conclusions from this HLC, concerning Myanmar, is that the violation of human values cannot be tolerated.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Thailand's decision to hold a meeting with the Myanmar junta is considered to have violated ASEAN's decision. This is because all ASEAN maneuvers related to Myanmar must be within the framework of ASEAN's five-point consensus.

Special Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia for Regional Diplomacy I Gede Ngurah Swajaya said ASEAN leaders had given a mandate to resolve Myanmar. They emphasized repeatedly that communication must be carried out with all parties. "If it is only done by one party, it violates the five-point consensus mandate," he said, in Jakarta, Monday (19/6/2023).

Read also: ASEAN Issues Stern Warning on Myanmar

The resigned Thai government has decided to hold a dialogue with the junta on Monday (19/6) in Bangkok. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore were absent from the meeting. Bangkok argued that Thailand needs to find a breakthrough to solve the problem in Myanmar. As a country directly bordering Myanmar, Thailand is greatly affected by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI (RAD)

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (middle) takes a photo with Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abdul Kadir, Philippines' Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Laos' Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, Brunei Darussalam's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Cambodia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn, Timor Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs Adaljiza Magno, and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn (from left to right) in the opening of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) Retreat at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Saturday (4/2/2023). The two-day meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and attended by Foreign Ministers of all ASEAN member countries except Myanmar.

Swajaya declines to provide a clear answer when asked whether the dialogue in Bangkok violates the ASEAN agreement. He only mentions that ASEAN leaders mandate that the dialogue must be inclusive and involve all stakeholders. ASEAN leaders also mandate that communication with stakeholders be carried out by the chairperson. "Please judge for yourselves," he said.

He confirmed that Indonesia was invited by Thailand to attend a forum in Bangkok. However, Indonesia decided not to attend the forum.

Also read: ASEAN Leaders Condemn the Shooting Incident in Myanmar

ASEAN members, according to him, have the right to take initiative regarding Myanmar. However, if within the framework of ASEAN, they must follow the rules. One of the forms is a decision within the ASEAN High-Level Conference (KTT).

Mandate form

Since the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia, a number of decisions have been made regarding Myanmar. These decisions include not inviting Myanmar officials who hold ministerial-level or higher positions to ASEAN forums.

The mandate of ASEAN leaders, among others, was realized by Indonesia through 75 communications with various parties. Communication was also carried out with countries bordering Myanmar, including Thailand.

"There is no problem with the engagement. Whatever the result, Mrs. Minister of Foreign Affairs (Retno Marsudi) always informs other ministers about the progress of each engagement," said Swajaya."

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Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon (fourth from the left, wearing glasses) led a special meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Jakarta on Thursday (27/10/2022). At the meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed their disappointment with the military junta in Myanmar for not implementing the five-point consensus. Indonesia is urging ASEAN to open official communication channels with various stakeholders outside the Tatmadaw.

He also reminded that ASEAN partners support Indonesia's chairmanship and the implementation of the five-point consensus. They also support ASEAN's efforts to resolve the Myanmar issue within that consensus framework. "Everyone supports engagement to be carried out with all parties," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Strategic Support Bureau of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Achmad Rizal Purnama, stated that Indonesia's interaction with the Myanmar junta is carried out as a realization of the ASEAN leader's mandate. ASEAN leaders have mandated that the junta or civil groups in Myanmar must be engaged in communication. This interaction is part of efforts to find a solution determined and sought by Myanmar itself. "ASEAN only facilitates dialogue. The solution must be found by Myanmar itself," said Rizal.

Read also: Indonesia, Myanmar, and ASEAN

The settlement of Myanmar, according to Rizal, will indeed not be easy. In fact, after going through various processes, it is concluded that the Myanmar issue cannot be resolved in the near future.

ASEAN will continue to try to help Myanmar resolve its issues. The Myanmar issue will still be discussed during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta from 8-14 July 2023.

Thai attitude

From the perspective of Thailand, Bangkok assesses that they are the country that suffers the most from the conflict in Myanmar and is the only country in Southeast Asia that is most concerned about the situation affecting the people of Myanmar. These two factors became the basis for Thailand to host discussions with representatives of the Myanmar military junta on Monday. The Thai government stated that dialogue with the military junta is necessary to protect their borders.

"We suffer more than others because Thailand has more than 3,000 kilometers of land and sea borders. That is why dialogue is necessary. This is not about taking sides," said Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

AP/SAKCHAI LALIT

Myanmar citizens in Thailand hold a photo of Myanmar's military junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing during a protest commemorating two years since the military coup in Myanmar, on Wednesday (2/1/2023) in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thailand's Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, has reinforced Prayuth's statement. Don referred to Thailand as the only ASEAN country that wants to find a solution to the ongoing situation in Myanmar. "No other ASEAN member cares like us," said Don in an interview with Thai PBS.

Also read: Myanmar Stagnant, Jokowi Invites ASEAN to Formulate New Steps

He added that other ASEAN countries should be grateful for the initiative taken by the Thai Government. Don claimed that the talks initiated by the Thai Government are part of Bangkok's efforts to support the ASEAN leaders' agreement, namely the five-point consensus.

Quoted from the Bangkok Post website, Don stated that the meeting was not a formal meeting of ASEAN with Myanmar, but rather a forum for ASEAN countries to listen to the newly appointed foreign minister of Myanmar by the military junta, Than Swe.

"The Junta has replaced their leader. We must listen to them. If we want to help resolve the problems in Myanmar, we must listen to them," said Don."

The meeting in Bangkok was only attended by the Foreign Ministers of Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar. India and China sent their representatives.

(AFP/Reuters)