[Text/ Observer Network Xiong Chaoran] The 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member State Summit (hereinafter referred to as ASEAN Summit), which was held concurrently due to the impact of the new coronavirus epidemic, was held locally. On October 26, it was hosted and opened by Brunei, the current chairman of ASEAN. Since Myanmar's military junta did not send representatives to attend the summit, this move attracted severe criticism from ASEAN member states.
Cambodia will take over the rotating chair of ASEAN next year. Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized that ASEAN did not expel Myanmar from the alliance's framework. It was Myanmar that gave up its rights, causing ASEAN to be in a state of lacking a country.
At an "emergency meeting" held on October 15, ASEAN decided to exclude Myanmar's military junta leader Min Aung Lai from the ASEAN summit and would accept a Myanmar "non-political figure" Attend the meeting. However, Myanmar's military junta rejected the plan, saying it would only allow its leaders or government ministers to attend.
Previously, the Myanmar military government had expressed great disappointment and strong opposition to ASEAN's decision. Min Aung Hlaing himself also gave a speech to defend the military. Reuters believes that ASEAN's decision to exclude Min Aung Hlaing from the summit is not only a "huge insult" to the Myanmar military, but also a regional organization known for consensus, non-interference in each other's internal affairs and insistence on contact. A rare and bold step.
Reuters report screenshot
According to Reuters, Singapore "Lianhe Zaobao" reported on October 26 that the government figures of the participating ASEAN member states were very dissatisfied that the Myanmar military government did not send a representative to attend the summit.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that day: "Today, ASEAN did not expel Myanmar from the ASEAN framework. Myanmar gave up its rights." Cambodia will serve as the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2022.
He also said: "Now, we are in a situation where ASEAN is missing one country. This is not because of ASEAN, but because of Myanmar."
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that ASEAN has actually A place (a quota to attend the conference) was prepared for Myanmar, but Myanmar chose not to join. She also said that in his speech to the leaders of member states, Indonesian President Jokowi expressed regret for Myanmar's "unwelcoming attitude" towards ASEAN's diplomatic efforts.
Retno said: "The President (Jokowi) reminded us that it is important to adhere to the principle of non-intervention, but on the other hand, we are obliged to adhere to other principles... such as 'democracy', 'effective governance', 'respect for human rights' and ' Constitutional government'. ”
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha urged Myanmar to implement the “five-point road map” agreed with ASEAN. He believed that this issue was crucial to ASEAN’s reputation and a test of its determination. Reuters pointed out that Prayut is considered by the outside world to be the ASEAN leader who has the closest relationship with the coup plotters against the civilian government in Myanmar.
Prayut said: "ASEAN's constructive role in resolving this issue is crucial, and our actions on this issue will affect ASEAN's credibility in the international community."
On October 26, local time, various countries Leaders attended the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summit hosted by Brunei via video conference
Previously, according to Reuters On October 19, four people familiar with the matter were quoted as saying that at an "emergency meeting" before the ASEAN summit, the four founding members of ASEAN (the remaining one) were Indonesia, Malaysia , Philippines and Singapore. Founding member Thailand has pushed for a tougher stance on Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, deciding to exclude him from the upcoming ASEAN summit.
reported that since the military took over power on February 1 this year, the leaders of Myanmar's military government have been considered to be "bloody suppressing dissent." According to sources, the foreign ministers of ASEAN member states are divided between the two decisions of "adhering to the tradition of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs" and "maintaining the credibility of the alliance by sanctioning coup leaders."
In the end, Brunei, the current chair of ASEAN supported by the majority of member states, issued a statement and decided to exclude Min Aung Hlaing from the ASEAN Summit to be held from October 26 to 28, and compromised by inviting a "non-political figure" from Myanmar to participate this summit. Reuters pointed out that this decision broke ASEAN's decades-long policy of insisting on engagement and non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states.
Reuters also stated that the Myanmar military has been a thorny issue for ASEAN for decades. Previously, the ruling military government was heavily criticized for its "brutal suppression of the democratic movement" and refused to allow ASEAN Myanmar Special Envoy Erywan Yusof on the grounds that Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi was facing criminal charges. Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister) met with him and planned to visit Myanmar.
Data map: Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar National Defense Force Min Aung Hlaing Picture from The Paper
According to the "Jakarta Post" report on October 17, the spokesperson of the Myanmar military government specified that it was the United States and EU representatives who put pressure on other ASEAN leaders. This led to its military leaders being excluded from the ASEAN summit. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Myanmar military government stated that it was very disappointed and strongly opposed to Min Aung Hlaing’s exclusion from the summit. “The discussion and decision on the issue of Myanmar’s representation was conducted without consensus and violated the ASEAN’s goals”.
On October 18, local time, Min Aung Hlaing gave a televised speech to defend the military’s actions and said that the military was seeking to restore order and that ASEAN should pay attention to the violence of the opposition in Myanmar. Later, he also announced the pardon of thousands of political prisoners, the most significant concession made by Myanmar's military junta since it took power eight months ago. It is worth noting that this is also the first time Min Aung Hlaing has spoken since ASEAN refused to invite him to attend the ASEAN Summit.
Reuters quoted some analysts as predicting that there may be a "long-term confrontation" between Myanmar and ASEAN. These analysts pointed out that the "Myanmar crisis" exposed ASEAN's weaknesses and required a different approach.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, said that ASEAN’s best chance for success is to engage with external powers and all parties in Myanmar. According to reports, at this ASEAN summit, ASEAN leaders will also hold collective meetings with leaders from China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
He said: "The principle of non-interference no longer applies because the Myanmar armed forces have lowered acceptable governance standards to such a low level that they have alienated and weakened ASEAN's position in the international community."
Data map: 2019 At the 35th ASEAN Summit held in November, leaders of member states took a group photo Picture from social media
ASEAN was founded in 1967. The ASEAN Summit is a regular meeting held by the heads of ASEAN member states to make decisions on major issues and development directions of ASEAN. The chairman of the meeting is rotated by member states. Currently, ASEAN member states include 10 countries: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
The ASEAN Summit is generally held twice a year, in the first half of the year and the second half of the year. Since the ASEAN Summit could not be held in the first half of this year, the two summits were held back-to-back in the second half of the year.
Source: Observer.com
