Malaysia – Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah underlined that Wisma Putra would make no announcements on nominees for Malaysia’s envoys overseas. “Wisma Putra will announce the names only when the persons have received documents of appointment from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and we will withhold the identities until there are none,” he told a news conference after officiating the …

Myanmar – Myanmar’s junta on Monday (Feb 14) said it would not attend an upcoming ASEAN summit after the bloc’s “regrettable” exclusion of its top diplomat over a lack of progress in defusing post-coup violence. ASEAN invited Myanmar to send a “non-political representative” to this week’s foreign ministers’ meeting, citing a lack of progress on a consensus agreed last year …

Cambodia – A senior Cambodian official said on Monday that Myanmar military commander Min Aung Hlaing consented to prepare for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) special envoy from Cambodia to see members of the deposed governing party during a future visit. The declaration, made in a video conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Jan. 26, signals …

ASEAN – Rather than the country’s military-appointed foreign minister, Cambodia‘s foreign ministry announced on Thursday that a non-political delegate from Myanmar had been asked to join a conference of Southeast Asian foreign ministers later this month. Because of the lack of progress on an Asean peace plan, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have not achieved an agreement …

Myanmar – Myanmar’s junta was dealt another diplomatic setback when the Asean regional bloc prohibited its top diplomat from attending the meeting of foreign ministers. Cambodia, which now holds the rotating presidency of the group, said there had been too little movement on a “five-point consensus” reached by leaders last year in an attempt to resolve the Myanmar situation. According to …

ASEAN – One year after the military seized control in Myanmar, Singapore said that the situation there remained “very concerning” and that it is disappointed by the lack of progress on an ASEAN strategy to address the humanitarian crisis. Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement that the people of Myanmar’s situation “continues to deteriorate,” and urged Myanmar’s …

Myanmar – According to a source, a court in army-ruled Myanmar will begin an election fraud prosecution of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 14, after she was accused of manipulating the 2020 election to secure a second term in government. Suu Kyi is on trial in over a dozen crimes and has already been sentenced to a …

Thailand – Even as Thailand is suffering acute labor shortages, authorities continue to arrest and deport job seekers from Myanmar for entering illegally. The country, which has one of Southeast Asia’s most robust economies, urgently needs some 800,000 migrant workers in key sectors, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). “The industrial sector needs the most migrant workers, with …

Cambodia – The Cambodian Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Information and Media has dismissed the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights’ (APHR) “blind allegations” over Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen‘s trip to Myanmar on January 7. The panel claimed Hun Sen’s visit was part of his endeavor to resolve the turmoil in Myanmar, and that “only an evil-minded individual and …

Cambodia – Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen calls on Myanmar’s junta leader to allow a visit by an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) special envoy and to facilitate humanitarian aid access. Hun Sen, in his capacity as Asean chairman, video called military military leader Min Aung Hlaing and made a plea with him to adhere to a five-point agreement to resolve …