One Attitude in Facing the Crisis in Myanmar

To overcome the crisis in Myanmar, there is no choice for ASEAN but to have one attitude and carry out what has been a joint decision.

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

AFP/POOL/MAST IRHAM

Empty seat for Myanmar at the ASEAN Summit retreat session, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, 11 May 2023. ASEAN did not invite Myanmar's top officials or political officials to the meetings of this regional organization.

The crisis in Myanmar has not stopped. From the start of a military coup against a civilian government elected through elections, the crisis developed into an armed conflict. Pro-democracy groups are reported to have joined ethnic militias to fight the military junta.

Armed violence not only afflicts trained forces, but also innocent civilians. Blind attacks by the military junta against villages inhabited by civilians have occurred. After the military coup on February 1, 2021, more than 3,000 civilians have died as a result of military attacks in Myanmar. As many as 19,000 people are imprisoned in various locations in the country (Kompas.id, June 21, 2023).

ASEAN is working hard to push for a settlement in Myanmar. Five points of consensus were produced at a meeting of Southeast Asian countries in Jakarta in 2021. These five became a joint guide for ending the crisis. Some of the points are the cessation of violence and dialogue between all parties in Myanmar.

AP PHOTO/AUNG SHINE OO

General Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the military junta, inspected the troops during the Myanmar Armed Forces commemoration in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2023.

Also read: The Issue of Myanmar Splitting ASEAN

In addition, ASEAN has taken a stance of not supporting the military junta. This is shown through ASEAN meetings only being attended by technical officials from Myanmar or those below the level of minister.

A surprising thing happened on Monday (19/6/2023). Thailand held a meeting attended by the official Minister of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, Than Swe. Representatives from Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia were invited but refused to come. Outside of ASEAN, there are China and India (Kompas.id, 20 June 2023).

Thailand argues that the country shares a direct border with Myanmar. The crisis in Myanmar has increased crime at its borders. Thailand's Foreign Minister, Don Pramudwinai, stated that weapons smuggling and drug trafficking have increased. Therefore, there is no choice but to hold a meeting with representatives of Myanmar to find a solution. For Thailand, the military junta holds power in Myanmar. Bangkok also claims that the meeting aims to support the solution initiated by ASEAN through five consensus points (Asia.nikkei.com, June 19, 2023).

AFP/LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha arrived at the press conference location after leading a ministerial meeting in Bangkok on June 20, 2023.

Read also: UN Special Rapporteur Urges Indonesia-ASEAN to Change Approach in Myanmar Crisis

It is not wrong if some circles see that the meeting in Thailand has "divided" ASEAN. The principle of providing space for all parties in Myanmar who are in conflict, both the junta and pro-democracy groups, is considered to have been neglected in the meeting. The opportunity to speak was only given to the military junta.

The problems in Myanmar are not easy to overcome. Problems of national integration, security sector reform (SSR), institutionalization of democracy, corruption and extreme inequality are mixed together. Of course ASEAN does not need to pretend to solve all these problems. However, ASEAN must at least continue to have one attitude to stop protracted violence.