ASEAN Leadership Plans in Light of Continuing and Increasing Violence and Human Rights Violations in Myanmar
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns ASEAN's response to ongoing violence and human rights violations in Myanmar, as raised by MP Christopher de Souza. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore supports the ASEAN Chair’s condemnation of military airstrikes, which violate the established Five-Point Consensus. He noted that Indonesia is engaging stakeholders for inclusive dialogue and humanitarian aid, following ASEAN’s 2022 decision to send clear signals to the Tatmadaw. The Minister highlighted that while the United Nations and external partners assist in reconciliation, the primary factor limiting progress remains the internal stakeholders, particularly the Tatmadaw. Consequently, ASEAN continues to press the Tatmadaw to cease violence and implement the Five-Point Consensus swiftly and fully.
Transcript
8 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is the ASEAN leadership intending to do in light of continued and increasing violence and human rights violations in Myanmar.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair Indonesia has strongly condemned the recent airstrikes by the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, on 11 April 2023. Singapore supports this statement. Any attack on civilians is reprehensible and cannot be condoned. Such acts of violence contradict the Five-Point Consensus formulated by the ASEAN Leaders and accepted by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at their meeting on 24 April 2021 in Jakarta. Given the limited progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, the Leaders at the ASEAN Summits in November 2022, agreed on a series of steps to send a clear signal to the Tatmadaw.
Indonesia has been engaging stakeholders to encourage inclusive dialogue in Myanmar. It has called for the cessation of violence and taken steps to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar. Myanmar's neighbours outside of ASEAN and our external partners, including the United Nations, also have important roles to play in working with ASEAN to address the crisis and facilitate national reconciliation in Myanmar. Nevertheless, the rate limiting factor for progress in the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus is not ASEAN or our external partners, but the stakeholders within Myanmar, especially the Tatmadaw. We should continue to press the Tatmadaw to cease violence and implement the Five-Point Consensus swiftly and fully.