Myanmar’s ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which governed the country from 2016 up to the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to undermine democracy or disregard the democratic aspirations of Myanmar’s people.
“Any engagement with the military coup leaders should be assessed by its actual contribution to ending violence, securing the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners, restoring democracy, and establishing an inclusive political process,” stated the joint letter to ASEAN leaders on Nov. 3—ahead of the regional bloc’s summit in Manila, Philippines, from Nov. 16-18.
The NLD, along with 15 interim administrative units representing states and regions across Myanmar, expressed concern over five ASEAN member states’ recent engagement with regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, after he visited the capitals of Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
“Lasting peace, stability, and development can be achieved only when ASEAN Member States’ engagement helps translate the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar into concrete political progress towards a genuine federal union,” added the joint letter.
The NLD wants ASEAN to ensure that its engagement with the regime complies with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2669 and the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus, both of which call for a peaceful resolution to Myanmar’s crisis since the 2021 coup.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Kelley E. Currie, warned that pursuing unconditional diplomatic engagement with the regime risks legitimizing military rule during her speech to the U.N. on Oct. 28.
Since being inaugurated Myanmar president on April 10, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing has visited the capitals of ASEAN member states: Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Indonesia and Brunei have reportedly invited him to visit in the coming weeks.
