Myanmar coup

Experts have called for a new approach to be taken in resolving the political crisis in Myanmar, citing the ineffectiveness of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The Consensus was agreed upon by all 10 ASEAN leaders in April 2021 as a peace plan for Myanmar, but the military regime has not honoured its part of the agreement, and ASEAN has been criticised for its slow progress. Professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak from Chulalongkorn University has said that Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN has not made forward movements, and it is unlikely that ASEAN will change its strategy. As such, he has suggested that global efforts may have to go beyond ASEAN, and called for China, Japan, South Korea, and neighbouring countries to become more involved. Meanwhile, former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has urged pro-democracy forces to reach out to more conciliatory forces in Thailand to keep ASEAN unified and on track.

Despite criticism of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus, there have been some recent developments. Indonesia has facilitated the reopening of communication and consultation with various stakeholders on humanitarian aid to Myanmar, allowing the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to provide aid to those who require it, regardless of their background or political orientation. This is one of the items on the Five-Point Consensus, and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has called it a breakthrough. It is hoped that such developments can help to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the crisis, which has seen violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protestors and civilian deaths. However, there is still a long way to go in resolving the political stalemate in Myanmar.