BANGKOK, KOMPAS.TV — Myanmar’s military government has officially challenged the Asean Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ statement barring its leader from attending next week’s ASEAN Summit, as reported by the Associated Press, Saturday (23/10/2021).
Myanmar says the declaration, issued by the current ASEAN chair, Brunei, violates the ASEAN charter, its own sources and basic constitution.
In an official statement issued late Friday, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed why Myanmar believes ASEAN has violated its own rules by taking such action.
The 10-member bloc came into action after Myanmar refused to allow ASEAN’s special envoy to meet ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi has been in detention since Myanmar’s military junta seized power from her elected government in February.
ASEAN has been trying since April to play a mediating role in the Myanmar crisis, as the ruling junta’s military efforts to crush the opposition have only fueled increasingly violent and unstable resistance.
The row comes ahead of the start of the annual ASEAN summit on October 26, which includes high-level talks with world leaders such as US President Joe Biden, as well as leaders of China and Russia.
The months-long crisis in Myanmar, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and security and economic issues are at the top of the agenda for the high-level meeting, which will be held annually. online.
Western countries such as the United States have strongly condemned Myanmar’s military junta since the takeover and its deadly crackdown on those opposed to the military coup, which is estimated to have killed about 1,100 civilians.
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