'Myanmar junta, opposition agree to extend ceasefire for humanitarian aid'

Summary

• Leaders of the junta and Myanmar National Unity Government have agreed to extend the ceasefire for the continuation of humanitarian aid after the earthquake, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

• Anwar says that his initial engagements with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and the NUG have been ‘very successful’.

Leaders of the Myanmar junta and the country’s National Unity Government (NUG) have agreed to an extended ceasefire for the continuation of humanitarian aid after a devastating quake there, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today.

Anwar, the current chair of Asean, told a press conference in Thailand that his initial engagements with both junta leader Min Aung Hlaing and the NUG have been “very successful”.

“I will immediately contact my colleagues in Asean to inform them and to encourage all efforts for humanitarian assistance (which) should also allow the presence of personnel from these countries to also observe so that they honour the commitment there will be a ceasefire and no unnecessary provocations, because otherwise the whole humanitarian exercise would fail,” he said.

On March 29, Myanmar was hit by a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which also affected neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

A total of 3,649 people were killed, 5,018 were injured, and 145 remain missing.

Subsequently, Min made a rare request for international humanitarian aid and announced a temporary ceasefire after years of fighting rebels following the junta’s move to depose a legitimately elected government in 2021.

The ceasefire was initially set to end on April 22.

Openness to cooperate

Anwar said that Min expressed his openness to continue working together with Asean despite the regional bloc’s position, which is the five-point consensus (5PC) on Myanmar.

The 5PC reached in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2021 agreed that Myanmar should end the violence, hold constructive discussions with “all parties concerned”, appoint a special Asean envoy to conduct talks, and allow said envoy to visit the country while Asean provides aid.

“I mean, it’s a very positive sign of goodwill to allow Asean to engage with them in a more meaningful manner.

“And in my discussions, of course, I told him it’s important to cease fire, it’s important to allow for humanitarian efforts to cover all of Myanmar, irrespective of where they are or what political position they take. That assurance was given,” Anwar said.

The Myanmar coup occurred on Feb 1, 2021, when the military, headed by Min, ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

This triggered mass protests, fatal clashes with the military and a crackdown on opponents of the military rule, resulting in thousands jailed or killed.

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