Asean nations to broker Myanmar talks in bid to end bloodshed

Bloomberg

Southeast Asian leaders will appoint an envoy to mediate talks between “all parties” in Myanmar, one of the most concrete moves yet to end months of violence since a February 1 coup that has seen the military regime kill hundreds of pro-democracy protesters.
Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the dialogue process at a special summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has come under increasing pressure to take action to end the bloodshed. The leaders reached consensus on an “immediate cessation of violence,” according to a statement released after the meeting.
“There is an echo of distress among Asean member states to learn, on a daily basis, what is unfolding in Myanmar,” Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said at the meeting in Jakarta. “Many around the world want an explanation, and we are finding it increasingly tough to explain. The international community expects Asean to
act and address what is happening in our very own backyard.”
The move to appoint a special envoy is unusual for Asean, which traditionally has avoided direct interventions into domestic political disputes.
Still, it remains unclear if the military regime will release Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained civilian leaders, or if the junta will alter a plan to hold a fresh election in early 2022 following a yearlong period of emergency rule.
Myanmar’s pro-democracy National Unity
Government, a parallel administration formed earlier this month by Suu Kyi’s allies, called the Asean statement “encouraging news.”
“We look forward to firm action by Asean to follow up its decisions and to restore our democracy and freedom for our people and for the region,” Sasa, the unity
government’s spokesperson who goes by one name, said in a statement.
Myanmar’s military has struggled to take control of the country since the coup, killing more than 700 people in a bid to end a widespread civil disobedience movement comprising students, civil servants and even diplomats.
The unrest has sent the economy into freefall, with persistent work stoppages disrupting business and
foreign investors spurning the country.
While the US, UK and European Union have put targeted sanctions on Myanmar’s generals and army-connected companies, Asian nations have largely avoided measures that would hit the military’s finances even while condemning the violence to varying degrees.
At the summit, Asean leaders “expressed our deep concern on the situation in the country, including reports of fatalities and escalation of violence,” according to the statement.
It said the Asean envoy would visit Myanmar, but didn’t provided a timeframe or specify who would join the talks.
The statement also stopped short of mentioning Suu Kyi by name and a five-point consensus didn’t include the release of dissidents, with the statement only saying “we also heard calls for the release of all political prisoners including foreigners.” The word “coup” wasn’t mentioned.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said he “conveyed the importance of the Myanmar military leadership to make a commitment to ending the use of force by the Myanmar military.”
“At the same time all parties must exercise restraint so that tensions can be defused,” he added.
Australia commended Asean’s leadership, said the five points of consensus should be implemented as soon as possible and announced A$5 million ($3.9 million) for the association to provide humanitarian assistance in Myanmar.
Ahead of the meeting, Western nations and international organisations had called for tougher action from Asian countries on Myanmar, including imposing sanctions on companies with ties to the military.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield earlier this month called on Asean countries “to review their financial and other linkages to the military.”