Skip meeting with Myanmar junta, ex-minister urges Tok Mat
Former Malaysian foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah has urged the current government to boycott an informal Asean meeting with Myanmar's military junta. He argues that engaging with the junta legitimizes their rule and ignores their rejection of regional peace efforts.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions within Asean regarding how to handle the political crisis and human rights abuses in Myanmar.
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the Myanmar junta has repeatedly shown contempt for Asean’s efforts to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis and conflict.
PETALING JAYA: An opposition MP has urged foreign minister Mohamad Hasan to skip tomorrow’s informal meeting between Asean foreign ministers and their Myanmar counterpart in Bangkok.
Former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah also warned the Philippines, as Asean chair, against normalising ties with the Myanmar junta through such meetings, even if informal.
Saifuddin said the Myanmar military government has repeatedly shown contempt for the regional bloc’s efforts to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis and conflict.
“The junta has ignored Asean’s calls for dialogue, intensified violence against civilians, and their junta-controlled parliament had on July 9 approved a motion rejecting the Asean Five-Point Consensus itself.
“If the junta rejects even Asean’s minimum proposal, why is Asean rewarding that behaviour with higher levels of engagement?
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