The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed that an election in Myanmar was not a priority and is urging the military regime, which seized power during a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, to adhere to its peace commitments instead, Malaysia’s foreign minister said on Friday.
Myanmar, an ASEAN member, is in the grips of an escalating crisis and critics have derided the regime-planned election this year as an attempt to prolong military rule through proxies in the absence of a viable political opposition.
Minister Mohamad Hasan said members of ASEAN, which Malaysia is chairing, want Myanmar to honour its Five Point Consensus, a peace plan Min Aung Hlaing agreed to in April 2021, following his military coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian-led National League for Democracy (NLD) government.
The peace plan has largely been a failure, with the regime unwilling to engage in dialogue with opponents it views as “terrorists”. Opposition political parties have been decimated and what remains of them are either barred from or unwilling to contest the election.
“An election is not part of the five-point consensus,” Hasan told reporters on the sidelines of a gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers in Malaysia on July 11.
“We advised Myanmar that an election is not a priority for now, the priority is to cease all violence… so that all parties can sit together.”
ASEAN has barred Myanmar’s regime officials from attending its key meetings since 2022 for failing to honor its peace commitments. Myanmar is represented at meetings by foreign ministry officials.
Hasan said the bloc would not accept an election in Myanmar that was not participated by all parties.
“There’s no point in having a partial election. That will not solve any problems, but instead will worsen conditions.”
Myanmar’s military is battling to contain a nationwide uprising to the 2021 coup led by established ethnic armed groups and a burgeoning resistance movement that formed quickly after a military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations. At least 3.5 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the U.N.
Human rights groups have accused the regime of committing widespread atrocities against the civilian population, which it has dismissed as Western disinformation.
ASEAN also wants a temporary ceasefire announced by the regime after a devastating earthquake in March to be extended and expanded, Hasan added. Resistance forces, rights groups, and conflict monitors have accused the regime in Naypyidaw of ignoring its own ceasefire and continuing artillery and air assaults, which it denies.
REUTERS
