Myanmar crisis to dominate ASEAN foreign ministers’ retreat
[FILE] Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Zambry Abd Kadir, Philippine’s Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Singapore’s Senoir Officer Leader Albert Chua, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Laos’ Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Brunei’s Senior Officer Leader Johariah Wahab, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, East Timor’s Foreign Minister Adaljiza Xavier Magno and the ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a family photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers Meeting ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo on May 9, 2023. (Photo by MAST IRHAM / POOL / AFP)
The Myanmar crisis and the implementation of the 5-point consensus (5PC) will dominate the scheduled ASEAN retreat on July 12th, according to a highly placed source.
The source said that Indonesia has scheduled the retreat after the plenary session, so that all foreign ministers will be able to exchange views on the crisis. Traditionally, the retreat comes ahead of the plenary session.
Indonesia wants to press for additional sanctions against the military regime in Naypyidaw, for failing to implement the 5PC, especially the points related to ending violence, humanitarian assistance and jump-starting political dialogue.
The source pointed out that the ASEAN chair has been in contact with all stakeholders, including representatives of the National Unity Government, People’s Defence Forces and Ethnic Armed Organisations.
ASEAN has been under pressure from its dialogue partners, especially the US, which wants to see the cessation of all violence against the Myanmar people. Washington has also imposed sanctions on the junta’s leaders and on two major banks, Myanmar Bank and the Myanmar Bank of Investment and Commerce. The purpose is to cripple the military regime’s ability to wage war against the resistance.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will schedule a meeting with his ASEAN colleagues at the Post Ministerial Conference on July 14th. He will then join other colleagues from the members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS) to discuss regional and international issues.
The ARF is the only region-wide security forum covering all countries in the Indo-Pacific region. The ASEAN foreign ministers will issue a statement to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the ARF. The EAS is the only strategic forum for the ten ASEAN members, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, India, Russia, Australia, the US and New Zealand.
The source said that the ASEAN ministers will continue to reaffirm the 5PC and urge Naypyidaw to implement them. The ban on the attendance of Naypyidaw’s top leaders at ASEAN-related meetings is expected to continue.
Recent fighting inside Myanmar has forced the residents of more than 5,000 villages to flee the conflict and to cross into Thailand, especially in Mae Hong Son province.
