Global Courant 2023-05-08 21:26:49
LABUAN BAJO – Two staff members of the Singaporean embassy in Myanmar who were in a humanitarian convoy on Sunday are now safe.
Responding to questions from The Straits Times, a State Department spokesman said the ASEAN convoy was in Shan State, in the eastern part of the country.
“Two employees from the Singapore Embassy in Yangon were part of the convoy. They are safe and have returned to Yangon,” he said.
Local Burmese news outlets reported on Monday that the aid convoy had come under fire on a road through Hsi Hseng township.
The convoy was reportedly on its way to talks with various groups about providing aid to internally displaced persons, but had to turn back.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Singapore condemns this attack, the MFA spokesman said, noting that it is critical to ensure the safety of humanitarian and diplomatic personnel so that they can conduct their operations to help those in need.
Myanmar has been ravaged by violence since the country’s military overthrew the democratically elected government in a coup d’état in February 2021.
In April 2021, ASEAN drafted a five-point (5PC) peace plan with Myanmar, but little progress has been made in restoring peace. The violence has claimed the lives of thousands.
“Singapore urges all sides to refrain from violence, in line with the five-point consensus. Only a constructive dialogue between all major stakeholders in Myanmar can enable a peaceful solution in the interest of the people of Myanmar,” said the MFA spokesperson.
At a press conference in Labuan Bajo, a fishing village on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, on Monday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo criticized the attack, saying it would not deter efforts to end the violence. Labuan Bajo is the site of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, which kicks off on Wednesday.
While not giving details, Mr Widodo said the AHA center (Asean Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management), accompanied by the ASEAN security team, was on its way to hand over relief supplies when the “shoot-out” happened .
