Ex-minister, UN experts: Anwar must now drive Asean's Myanmar shift

Summary

• Ex-foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah and three UN experts on Myanmar say Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has triggered an Asean reset on Myanmar, and must now lead the charge for a new regional approach.

• This is especially since Anwar had already met Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, they added.

• Several quarters have criticised Anwar’s plan to meet Min Aung Hlaing in Thailand, saying that although Anwar justified it on humanitarian grounds, anti-junta groups fear Min Aung Hlaing may try to build up legitimacy within Asean using the meeting.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has triggered an Asean reset on Myanmar and must now lead the charge for a new regional approach to be adopted at the upcoming Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, said Saifuddin Abdullah and UN experts on Myanmar.

In a joint statement today, the former foreign minister, along with three of the experts - Marzuki Darusman, Yanghee Lee, and Chris Sidoti - proposed that this initiative take the form of a new five-point consensus on Myanmar.

They noted that since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s junta led by Min Aung Hlaing has forcibly displaced more than 3.5 million people, driven tens of millions into poverty, and repeatedly exploited natural disasters for military gain, including by weaponising aid and obstructing humanitarian access.

They said the junta also “subjected Asean to four years of humiliation” by consistently denying and undermining the five-point consensus.

Myanmar’s national unity government (NUG) was formed in the aftermath of the coup by a coalition of ousted, democratically elected lawmakers, seeking to establish a parallel government in exile.

“By meeting with Min Aung Hlaing (above, right), Anwar has forced an Asean reset on Myanmar. The redundant five-point consensus should be regarded as dead.

“Anwar must now champion a new Asean process on Myanmar to be adopted at the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

“According to the NUG, junta airstrikes conducted since the earthquakes through to May 9 killed at least 334 civilians, including 32 children, and wounded at least 408 civilians, including 53 children.

“In a horrific emblematic attack on May 12, the junta bombed a school in O Htein Twin village of Depayin township in Sagaing region,” the statement said, adding that 22 children, some as young as seven years old, and two teachers were killed, while 105 civilians were wounded.

Five-point consensus

In April, several quarters criticised Anwar’s plan to meet Min Aung Hlaing in Thailand.

Although Anwar justified it on humanitarian grounds, anti-junta groups feared that Min Aung Hlaing may try to build up legitimacy within Asean using the meeting.

Saifuddin, Marzuki, Lee, and Sidoti outlined a proposed new five-point consensus, namely an immediate ceasefire and inclusive talks; unimpeded humanitarian access; conditions for free and fair elections; federal democracy and civilian rule; and justice and accountability.

They also welcomed Anwar’s meeting with NUG Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Thann on April 18.

They said the Asean chair’s engagement with Myanmar’s legitimate political leadership has opened channels for the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance following the devastating Sagaing earthquakes of March 28.

“Further meetings between the Asean chair and the NUG must take place in the lead up to the Asean Summit later this month.

“Anwar has the opportunity to secure Malaysia’s success as Asean chair and salvage Asean’s credibility after years of failure on Myanmar.

“He has bet his reputation on it. The people of Myanmar have much more at stake,” they added.

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