World Desk, AnyTV, Yangon
Published by: Harendra Chaudhary
Updated Sat, 19 Feb 2022 07:34 PM IST
Summary
Analysts say that the ruling Hun Sen has been trying to play the role of a mediator for 37 years, but this initiative is not acceptable to many ASEAN member states. Some observers see China’s hand behind Hun Sen’s stance. Like Myanmar, Cambodia also has close ties with China.
ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has once again failed to resolve the impasse over the Myanmar issue. The same was indicated by the meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday. ASEAN requested the military regime of Myanmar to send a non-political representative to the meeting. But Myanmar’s military dictator General Min Aung Halayang turned down this request.
The meeting of foreign ministers took place in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Cambodia is currently the president of this association of ten countries. Myanmar is also one of these ten countries. After the meeting, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon said – The foreign ministers discussed the developments in Myanmar. He has again expressed his concern over the situation there. Concern was expressed especially over the reports of death and violence from there.
Member countries furious over Myanmar in ASEAN
Observers have pointed out that the meeting was originally scheduled to be held on January 18 and 19. But that meeting had to be postponed due to deepening differences in ASEAN on the Myanmar issue. Then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen invited Wuna Muang Lwin, the Foreign Minister of Myanmar’s military regime, for the ASEAN meeting. But it was strongly opposed by countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. These countries are against any such move, which sends a message of legitimacy to military rule.
Due to opposition from several ASEAN member states, it was decided to call a non-political representative of Myanmar for the meeting this time. The website NikkeaAsia.com has said in a special report that the military regime turned down this invitation from ASEAN. In this regard, Wuna Muang Lwin sent a reply, which said- ‘Sending non-political representatives would violate the principle and practice of equal representation of ASEAN.’
Is China behind this?
Hun Sen visited Myanmar in the first week of January. There he met Min Aung Hlayang. This was the first visit by a head of government of a country to Myanmar since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Analysts say that the ruling Hun Sen has been trying to play the role of a mediator for 37 years, but this initiative is not acceptable to many ASEAN member states. Some observers see China’s hand behind Hun Sen’s stance. Like Myanmar, Cambodia also has close ties with China.
Experts are of the opinion that the military rulers of Myanmar have put an end to Hun Sen’s policy of adopting the middle path by rejecting the ASEAN invitation. This has now cleared the way for ASEAN to follow the Five Point Plan in the case of Myanmar. This plan was agreed upon in ASEAN in April 2021. These included an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue between all parties, the appointment of an ASEAN envoy to make talks possible, sending humanitarian aid to Myanmar, and sending an ASEAN envoy to Myanmar.
Expansion
ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has once again failed to resolve the impasse over the Myanmar issue. The same was indicated by the meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Thursday. ASEAN requested the military regime of Myanmar to send a non-political representative to the meeting. But Myanmar’s military dictator General Min Aung Halayang turned down this request.
The meeting of foreign ministers took place in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Cambodia is currently the president of this association of ten countries. Myanmar is also one of these ten countries. After the meeting, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon said – The foreign ministers discussed the developments in Myanmar. He has again expressed his concern over the situation there. Concern was expressed especially over the reports of death and violence from there.
Member countries furious over Myanmar in ASEAN
Observers have pointed out that the meeting was originally scheduled to be held on January 18 and 19. But that meeting had to be postponed due to deepening differences in ASEAN on the Myanmar issue. Then Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen invited Wuna Muang Lwin, the Foreign Minister of Myanmar’s military regime, for the ASEAN meeting. But it was strongly opposed by countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. These countries are against any such move, which sends a message of legitimacy to military rule.
Due to opposition from several ASEAN member states, it was decided to call a non-political representative of Myanmar for the meeting this time. The website NikkeaAsia.com has said in a special report that the military regime turned down this invitation from ASEAN. In this regard, Wuna Muang Lwin sent a reply, which said- ‘Sending non-political representatives would violate the principle and practice of equal representation of ASEAN.’
Is China behind this?
Hun Sen visited Myanmar in the first week of January. There he met Min Aung Hlayang. This was the first visit by a head of government of a country to Myanmar since the February 1, 2021 military coup in Myanmar. Analysts say that the ruling Hun Sen has been trying to play the role of a mediator for 37 years, but this initiative is not acceptable to many ASEAN member states. Some observers see China’s hand behind Hun Sen’s stance. Like Myanmar, Cambodia also has close ties with China.
Experts are of the opinion that the military rulers of Myanmar have put an end to Hun Sen’s policy of adopting the middle path by rejecting the ASEAN invitation. This has now cleared the way for ASEAN to follow the Five Point Plan in the case of Myanmar. This plan was agreed upon in ASEAN in April 2021. These included an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue between all parties, the appointment of an ASEAN envoy to make talks possible, sending humanitarian aid to Myanmar, and sending an ASEAN envoy to Myanmar.