Asean Parliamentarian Human Rights chairperson Charles Santiago has blasted the regional bloc over the decision not to invite the UN Special Envoy to Myanmar to a Consultative Meeting on Asean Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar held in Phnom Penh on Friday.
“It is a disgrace that the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Noeleen Heyzer, could not attend the Consultative Meeting on Asean Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar held in Phnom Penh on May 6, as she was blocked by the Myanmar junta.
“Asean should not give an illegal junta the power to veto people who are working towards finding a solution to the crisis in Myanmar,” said Charles (above) in a statement last night.
He said the meeting hosted by Cambodia was a clear attempt to legitimise aid delivery by the Myanmar military, an institution with a long history of weaponising aid distribution.
“We have noted with grave concern that areas singled out for assistance are being subjected to the junta’s scorched-earth military campaigns, and it is extremely difficult to believe that the perpetrators of all kinds of atrocities against the Myanmar people will deliver aid to them in an impartial and effective manner.
“Rather than legitimising the delivery of assistance by a junta with an appalling record of human rights violations and brutality, Asean should step up the pressure on the Myanmar military to make sure that the aid the Myanmar people so badly need is not weaponised,” said the Klang MP, speaking on behalf of the cross-national parliamentary group.
Malaysia engaging all sides
Yesterday, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Malaysia will continue to engage with all stakeholders in Myanmar, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC).
He said that given the current situation, there is a need to engage with all stakeholders to show support and solidarity.
“We are not choosing sides, we have no business choosing sides. We are not stopping Asean to engage with Naypyidaw, no problem engaging.
The NUG is Myanmar’s government in exile and represents the administration that was overthrown in a military coup on Feb 1, 2021, while the NUCC is a political coalition that seeks to unite Myanmar’s anti-regime forces.
The Five-Point Consensus (5PC) on Myanmar adopted by Asean leaders at the Asean Leaders Meeting in Jakarta on April 24, last year were:
1) To end violence
2) To hold constructive discussions with stakeholders
3) For Asean to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar
4) To appoint a special Asean ambassador to carry out negotiations
5) For the special envoy to be allowed to visit the country
Saifuddin yesterday said the junta has been isolating itself for the past year since the 5PC was adopted.
“They don’t seem very cooperative for the past year. Almost no progress despite both special envoys trying their level best to work overtime to get at least some of the consensus to be implemented,” he added.
The envoys were former special envoy, Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof and current special envoy, Cambodian foreign minister Prak Sokhonn.
Earlier this year Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob spoke to his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen after the latter labelled Saifuddin as “arrogant” after he had expressed reservations over Hun Sen’s decision to visit Myanmar on Jan 7 while being chair of Asean, stating that he should have consulted other Asean members first.
Saifuddin said despite one of the 5PC clearly calling for the end of violence, statistics showed otherwise.
He said 10,786 armed clashes and attacks on civilians were reported from Feb 1, 2021 to April 15, 2021.
In the same period, some 2,146 people were killed while 13,282, including parliamentarians, journalists, and civilians were detained. - Mkini
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