ASEAN leaders call on Myanmar junta to stop attacks on civilians

September 5, 2023

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), meeting in a summit on Tuesday in Jakarta, have “strongly condemned” the violence against civilians in Burma, acknowledging that their peace plan to resolve the crisis Burmese was at an impasse.

The ASEAN heads of state and government “called on the armed forces in particular, and all relevant parties in Burma, to de-escalate violence and end targeted attacks targeting civilians, homes and public buildings, such as schools, hospitals, markets, churches and monasteries,” in a statement seen by AFP.

Since a coup in 2021, the Burmese military has carried out a bloody crackdown on all opposition, including supporters of democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The leaders discussed the application of the five-point peace plan, signed in 2021 by ASEAN with the junta but largely ignored by it.

“The conclusion is that there is no significant progress in implementing the five points,” Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after the summit, although the plan remains in place. .

The leaders of the group have also decided that the presidency of Asean will be withdrawn in 2026 from the junta, and attributed to the Philippines.

“Burma will not assume the presidency of ASEAN in 2026,” Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the junta, confirmed to AFP, without giving further details.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos confirmed earlier that his country “is ready to take the reins and the presidency of ASEAN in 2026”.

“We will fortify the foundations of our community and guide Asean as it begins a new chapter,” he added, according to a statement from the presidency.

Members of the ten-nation bloc, often described as a powerless discussion forum, are divided over the crisis in Burma, a member country of the group.

ASEAN no longer invites junta representatives to the group’s high-level meetings.

But while some countries want to completely exclude the junta, others want to continue the dialogue with the military.

This change of rotating presidency is “a pragmatic gesture”, which allows the group not to see “its agenda taken hostage” by the Burmese crisis, a diplomat close to the discussions told AFP under cover of the anonymity.

In Yangon, two leaders of authorized parties indicated on Tuesday that the junta would “probably” organize a national poll in 2025, the first in Burma since the coup of 2021. But the United States objected that a poll organized by the junta would be a “simulacrum”.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had earlier warned ASEAN of rising geopolitical risks in the region.

“ASEAN countries have agreed not to mediate with other powers and to cooperate with each other for peace and prosperity,” he said, amid growing rivalry between China and states. united in the region.

Beijing’s ambitions in the South China Sea? which it claims almost in its entirety? are also at the top of the concerns of ASEAN members.

Beijing’s publication of a new “standard” map on which the claimed maritime zones overlap those of several Asean countries has triggered a wave of reactions in Asia-Pacific, from India, to Malaysia, passing through Vietnam and the Philippines.

Southeast Asian leaders were to raise concerns about “sea-taken land, activities and serious incidents” in that sea, according to the draft text. He also denounces actions that have “increased tensions and could compromise peace, security and stability in the region”.

The leaders should also give themselves until 2026 to conclude negotiations on a “Code of Conduct”, intended to ease tensions in the South China Sea.

Jakarta will also host the East Asia Summit on Thursday, bringing together 18 countries, including the United States, China, Japan, India and Russia.

But the heavyweights of the group, US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be absent. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the meeting, as will US Vice President Kamala Harris, who arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday.

This is his third trip to Southeast Asia in less than three years and White House underlined his commitment to “strengthening alliances and partnerships in the region”.

At both the ASEAN and East Asia summits, Ms. Harris “will highlight the United States’ unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific in general and to the centrality of ASEAN. in particular,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.

The American vice-president should also take part in a round table with Mr. Lavrov.