Civil Group Calls ASEAN Not to Involve Junta in Myanmar Resolution

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Human Rights Working Group has called for Indonesia, which holds the chairmanship for this year’s ASEAN, to not involve the military Junta in solving the crisis in Myanmar. The group also urged Indonesia to cooperate with Myanmar's National Unity Government, which was established following the military coup in the country.

Human Rights Working Group executive director Daniel Awigra said on Friday, March 10, 2023, said that “the most important key is how far the government has coordinated with the NUG [national unity government].”

Moreover, Daniel believed that involving the military Junta cannot be accepted due to its nature of utilizing violence, and military weaponry and that it had failed to protect its own population. 

Myanmar has been torn by violence and political instability since the military junta overthrew the elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. NUG was founded by mostly National League for Democracy (NLD) politicians after the coup.

ASEAN is currently frustrated because the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) has never shown its intention to implement the consensus. The agreement, which was made shortly after the coup, was co-signed by the general and includes constructive dialogue, cessation of violence, mediation between various parties, provision of humanitarian assistance, and tasking a special envoy to Myanmar.

During the ASEAN meeting last month, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia would put forward three approaches to implementing the consensus. The Indonesian government previously emphasized that it would carry out tacit diplomacy in resolving the crisis in Myanmar and refused to explain the steps it was trying to take. 

According to Daniel, he has never communicated directly with the Indonesian government regarding the crisis in Myanmar. 

DANIEL A FAJRI

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