The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a long-standing policy of political non-interference in member states’ internal affairs. Despite the events of the previous five years in Myanmar, where the military carried out “clearing operations” against some 1 million civilians belonging to the Rohingya minority, the association remained committed to that theory. This, though, will not be an option …

Last Feb. 1, on the day of the convening of the newly elected parliament, the world was stunned as the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power after the nation voted overwhelmingly for the return of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy in the November 2020 election. Asean’s limits are well known, with the ideals …

Scuffles broke out on Thursday between opponents and supporters of the Myanmar coup, as Facebook shut down all accounts connected to the military of the country and blocked advertising on its platforms from military-controlled companies. According to local media, pro-military protesters marching in downtown Yangon, the largest city in the country, stabbed one man and punched and hurled rocks at …

In breach of a court order banning the operation, Malaysian opposition lawmakers and foreign human rights organizations are requesting that the government clarify why it deported more than 1,000 Myanmar migrants. On Wednesday, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur ordered a stay on the proposed repatriation of 1,200 Myanmar nationals pending an appeal by Amnesty International and the local human …

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi is spearheading an effort to get the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) more involved in resolving the political situation in Myanmar. Retno flew to Brunei yesterday and is scheduled to visit Singapore today for talks to create an ASEAN consensus on the unfolding of the region’s political crisis. Thank you @VivianBala for receiving me …

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Despite a military coup in their home country, the Malaysian government will repatriate 1,200 Myanmar migrants next week but has ensured that they will not include minority Muslim Rohingya refugees or those registered with the U.N. Agency for refugees. But with the U.N. On Tuesday, the High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern that vulnerable women …

The ASEAN states, including Singapore, have intensively discussed the political crisis in Myanmar and can play a discreet role in helping Myanmar return to stability, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 16). The bloc, however, stands firm on its policy of not interfering in its members’ domestic politics, he added. Dr Balakrishnan, who responded to questions from …

KUALA LUMPUR: The UN refugee agency said on Friday (Feb 12) Malaysia should not deport refugees after Reuters reported that it was planning to send 1,200 Myanmar nationals back to their country. Malaysia agreed to return them after the Myanmar military, which seized power in a Feb 1 coup, offered to send three navy ships to pick citizens held in …

After the army deposed the country’s newly elected government in a coup last week, a prominent Singapore businessman said he would withdraw his investment in a tobacco company linked to the Myanmar military. In a statement on Tuesday, February 9, Lim Kaling, co-founder and director of Hong Kong-listed gaming group Razer, said he was a minority shareholder in Virginia Tobacco …

The leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia have called for a special meeting to be convened by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the deteriorating political situation in Myanmar. On February 1, the Myanmar army, or Tatmadaw, took power in the region, alleging irregularities in a November election won by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and the …