TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry representative clarified Myanmar’s participation in the 6th High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision (6th HLTF-ACV) meeting, which was held at Jakarta’s Grand Hyatt Hotel on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah argued that the Myanmar representatives in the event were not political representatives.

"As long as those present are civil servant officials, they are not barred from attending. It’s the junta who are not permitted," said Teuku in a text message to Tempo on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

The 6th HLTF-ACV meeting was co-chaired by Indonesia and Malaysia. Important figures, high-level representatives, and delegates from member countries, as well as the Deputy Secretary General for Politics and Security of the ASEAN Community, attended the meeting.

Citing Global New Light of Myanmar, the delegates of Myanmar were led by Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Wah Wah Maung. Maung was accompanied by Myanmar's Permanent Representative to ASEAN U Aung Myo Myint and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar.

The meeting discussed matters relating to the development of Core Elements of the Post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision, Stakeholder Consultation Modalities, to Timor Leste's participation as an observer country at the next HLTF meeting.

The development of the 2023 HLTF Work Plan as well as recommendations that could be submitted by ASEAN Leaders at the 43rd ASEAN Summit, were also included in the contents of the meeting. The ASEAN Summit will be held in Indonesia in May 2023.

Myanmar has been beset by violence and economic and political instability since a coup in early 2021. The Southeast Asian bloc, led by Indonesia this year, remains frustrated due to the junta showing no intentions to implement the consensus.

The agreement, which was made shortly after the coup, was co-signed by the general. The agreement includes constructive dialogue, cessation of violence, mediation between various parties, provision of humanitarian assistance, and sending a special envoy to Myanmar.

ASEAN has agreed not to invite the junta to high-level meetings. In several foreign minister meetings, Myanmar's non-political representatives did not attend.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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