Global Courant 2023-05-10 06:45:00
LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia — Indonesian President Joko Widodo, during his opening address on Wednesday at the 42nd ASEAN Summit, called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to play a role in maintaining peace in the region.
The two-day event, which brings together leaders from across the region, has been overshadowed by the escalating political crisis in Myanmar.
The summit comes just days after unidentified attackers fired on a convoy of Asean diplomats and aid workers delivering supplies in western Myanmar.
The incident sparked frustrations over the junta’s failure to end the violence and ensure safe access for humanitarian aid.
The security situation in Myanmar has deteriorated since the military seized power in a 2021 coup and launched a campaign to crush its opponents.
Asean has urged the junta to implement a “five-point peace consensus” by the end of 2021, which includes cessation of all hostilities and involvement of all stakeholders.
It banned the generals from attending high-level meetings until progress is made.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on Tuesday that the implementation of the five-point plan was discussed this week and that ASEAN is playing an “instrumental” role for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
As ASEAN’s presidency in 2023, Indonesia has also quietly enlisted Myanmar’s military, shadow government and armed ethnic groups to initiate peace talks.
“Asean is doing as much as it can because when you’re out there on the ground, it’s not that easy,” said Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.
But some have called on ASEAN, which espouses a policy of non-intervention in members’ sovereign affairs, to take a tougher stance against Myanmar.
“Leaving the seat empty on Asean summits is actually their comfort zone, they don’t need to be held accountable,” said former Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, referring to Myanmar’s military leadership. “Expelling the junta is only part of a series of steps that need to be taken.”
He said the Myanmar schism poses an “unprecedented challenge” to the bloc’s unity.
“This is the first time… that ASEAN has actually been short-circuited, because now we basically have the nine member states and Myanmar not participating,” he said.
Leaders meeting in the eastern Indonesian coastal town of Labuan Bajo are also expected to discuss a code of conduct being negotiated with China over the disputed South China Sea. Other issues to be discussed include a roadmap for East Timor’s planned membership in the bloc. REUTERS
