The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is increasingly under attack from human rights activists, member nations, and international watchdog organizations for their involvement in Myanmar’s military junta.
The ongoing crisis has not yet been resolved under the five-point consensus agreed in 2021, and there are concerns that ASEAN has failed to hold any accountable and has not helped to make a proper political transition. The Straits Times’ coverage is on ASEAN’s response.
The Stalled Five-Point Plan
The crisis in Myanmar started from the military coup in 2021 that toppled the democratically elected government. Since then, the military has experienced widespread opposition from pro-democracy groups and ethnic armed groups.
The five-point plan proposed by ASEAN included immediate deescalation of the situation, talks among relevant stakeholders and the designation of a special envoy to assist in delivering humanitarian assistance. But almost three years on, the violence has not abated and the military has been slow to make any concessions for negotiation.
Regional and Global Implications
Critics, however, argue that ASEAN’s core tenets of non-interference and consensus decision making have made it ineffective in dealing with the crisis. There have been demands for tougher sanctions and more direct dialogue with the shadow government, the National Unity Government (NUG), by some member states.
Meanwhile, the military junta is consolidating its power resulting in more displacement and humanitarian suffering for Myanmar’s civilian population. Read Amnesty International’s latest briefing for a detailed report on the humanitarian crisis.
The Future of ASEAN’s Credibility
The failure to implement the peace plan also undermines the credibility of ASEAN in the international community. Its relevance in the region is being called into doubt by international actors as a result of its inability to effectively deal with internal conflicts.
As pressure intensifies, a critical decision is before ASEAN: can it evolve to deal with the military or will its future unity and purpose be jeopardised by the Myanmar issue? Keep up to speed on the latest news by following Reuters’ Asia Pacific.
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