Retired diplomat, writing about Southeast Asia at Stanford University’s Asia Pacific Research Center. Senior advisor at BowerGroupAsia. Views are my own.
As a diplomat, I have always supported dialogue, but the Tatmadaw is beyond reason. I see no value in dialogue with them until and unless they recognize they cannot win and make clear they are looking for a way out.
ASEAN’s agreement to let Min Aung Hlaing represent Myanmar at the upcoming summit raises the stakes for the bloc. To avoid major damage to its standing, ASEAN needs to consult with the NUG and come out of the summit with tangible actions to show it is not accepting the junta.
I think a lot of us foreigners still don’t fully appreciate the seismic shift that has occurred in Myanmar. I don’t know the way forward, but the Myanmar people have made very clear they will not accept this junta or any military-dominated govt. We should listen to them.
The Myanmar people continue to show daily, with astonishing courage, that they will not accept the Tatmadaw’s attempted power grab. To me, ”realism” in this case means understanding that any path that ignores the peoples’ voice will fail.
Wow! The people of Myanmar do not give up, even in the face of appalling violence by the security forces. The Tatmadaw consistently underestimates the courage and determination of the people.
Some are talking about the situation in Myanmar as civil war, a failed state, or a mass uprising. There are elements of all of those. Another comparison is to a foreign occupying army — zero legitimacy/support, beyond brutal, and willing to destroy everything for power.
The longer the coup regime is in power, the greater the chance Myanmar becomes a failed state. So any actions that confer legitimacy on the junta actually encourage greater instability, not to mention suffering of the Myanmar people.
Thanks
@MayWongCNA
. The Tatmadaw’s great “success” seems to have been to unite nearly all elements of Myanmar society against it and its disastrous coup. The military can’t govern, but it can do and is doing great harm.
When I was in Myanmar, people often talked about the Tatmadaw’s skill at planning and thinking ahead. The disastrous coup and aftermath suggest otherwise. They have created a disaster for the country and themselves.
Am I wrong to think the violence/instability in Myanmar — and the risk of a failed state — is against the interests of China, ASEAN, India, Japan and the West?
The Tatamadaw junta has no legitimacy inside the country, and almost no support outside. The leaders might not care about criticism, but they cannot be happy about their near-total failure to gain support or acceptance at home or abroad.
#US
Ambassador to the
#UN
says a
#Myanmar
#military
that kills the very people it is supposed to protect has "no legitimacy". This after the deadliest day on March 27 where at least 114 people were killed in a single day. The shootings continued on Sunday
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Well said
@thantmyintu
. Pre-coup Myanmar had lots of challenges, but also hope for a better future. The coup threatens to take away not only freedom, but that hope. Many are risking everything to regain both.
Army may be stretched to limits if forced to deal w/ continued urban protests as well as stepped up fighting around the country; ethnic armed orgs (inc those tied to China) then holding the balance of power. Tragic decent into renewed civil war possible but only the coup to blame
I’m curious how punitive measures against a murderous, illegitimate junta that the entire country rejects will make things worse, while embracing that junta and selling them weapons is okay.
News from
#Myanmar
| Russia on Tuesday said it opposed sanctions against the junta in Myanmar, warning that punitive measures could spark a large-scale civil war in the country.
This presentation by
@rshorsey
is superb. It should be required reading for all policymakers and everyone else trying to understand the crisis in Myanmar or offering ideas on the way ahead.
This will be an important meeting for Myanmar, but even more important for ASEAN. One of its member states has been taken over by a murderous force that has no legitimacy and threatens regional stability. A direct challenge to ASEAN‘s charter and its centrality.
Indications from Indonesia that ASEAN leaders summit to discuss Myanmar may be held next weekend. The plan is to hold it at the ASEAN Secretariat so it's symbolically an ASEAN-led meeting rather than an Indonesian-led one
Just thinking about some good friends — ASSK’s economic team — still being held in prison in Myanmar. Their crime apparently was to work hard to bring prosperity to the country. So sad for them and thousands of others. Myanmar deserves better.
There’s a long history of special envoys to Myanmar failing. Many have been good diplomats, but they are put in a difficult position. Criticize and they are denied entry. Gain entry and get nowhere. Time to rethink the entire approach.
Min Zaw Oo adds that the junta faces a battle that could last for years, even decades, “because people hate the regime to the extent we haven’t seen in past forty years.” The military has gone too far to be accepted by the people as a legitimate political actor.
Min Zaw Oo—a leading expert on Myanmar’s ethnic armed organizations, and no alarmist—compares the situation in Myanmar today to that in Syria before it plunged into civil war.
It still boggles my mind that the world is largely ignoring the Myanmar people’s incredibly courageous fight for democracy and hope against an absolutely horrific and brutal military.
@thantmyintu
@chongkittavorn
The key word to me is “gamble.” Moscow is gambling that the Tatmadaw holds onto power for at least the medium-term. Maybe it will, but it definitely is a high risk gamble.
I see lots of worrying by foreign analysts about what could go wrong in a transition from a military regime in Myanmar. Sure, lots could go wrong. But the junta is a guaranteed disaster; the resistance represents hope for a better future. We should do all we can to help it.
Frontier Myanmar reports that Chinese officials are upset that the NUG opened an office in Washington. Why? An NUG office in the US is no threat to Chinese interests. The Spring Revolution isn’t or shouldn’t be a US-China issue.
I love Thailand, but the current government’s open support for the brutal Myanmar junta is awful. It also prolongs instability, which can’t be good for Thailand.
Popular News reported meeting between
#Myanmar
army chief Min Aung Hlaing and Thai DPM Don Pramudwinai where they talked about curbing illegal cross-border arms trade
Myanmar army is also set to supply weapons to its own supporters for “defensive” purposes
Lots of bad news and ugly happenings around the world, but the people of Myanmar, Iran, and Ukraine provide daily inspiration and hope. Everywhere I’ve been in the world, people want freedom, justice, opportunity and to be treated with dignity. They deserve our support.
For anyone still harboring hope that the Myanmar junta can be reasoned with, its refusal to allow humanitarian aid into help the victims of Cyclone Mocha should be the final straw. The worst regime in Southeast Asia since the Khmer Rouge.
If the UN team in Myanmar truly believes engaging with the junta is necessary/valuable for the Myanmar people, they should come forward with a clear public explanation of their reasoning. If they can’t do this, then they should ask themselves why they are engaging.
I wonder if
@UNinMyanmar
and the junta ministry for Immigration and Population spoke about the erasure of the Rohingya identity through the NVC process or restrictions on citizenship?
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
“. . . if we do not even try, then it will be hard to explain to our grandchildren why a crisis took place in Myanmar.”
@DrRizalSukma
’s excellent message to ASEAN (though the rest of the world also needs to do more).
“... waiting and sweeping the problem under the carpet, even when one calls it “strategic patience”, will not make any difference... waiting for the crisis to “ripe” is irresponsible”, argues
@DrRizalSukma
on why
#ASEAN
needs to act now 👇🏻
Bringing an end to the Myanmar crisis is not a matter of the “right” international statesman/woman visiting and convincing the generals to compromise. Until and unless military is substantially weakened to the point of desperation, visiting NPT only gives the junta a photo op.
“Thai observers believe coexistence of the Tatmadaw and the NLD is the best of the alternatives before Myanmar.” Probably true in theory, but it’s really hard to imagine such a scenario after all that has happened.
"Yes, trust is key, but Thailand is mistaken in thinking that its special relationship with Myanmar could protect the region", according to one ASEAN diplomat
Latest Myanmar resistance offensive highlights the POSSIBILITY that the junta could collapse quickly. Not predicting that, but resistance and its friends around the world need to make contingency plans, including for humanitarian aid and restarting the economy.
Alarmingly & incorrectly (I believe), the report attributes the majority (50%) of 'terrorist' incidents to Peoples Defense Force (
#PDF
). Others=Chinland Defense Force (
#CDF
) & Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (
#KNDF
) while 14%=not attributed to a single perpetrator group.
I always value Bilahari Kausikan’s insights, but I think he’s wrong on Myanmar. Engaging the generals would bring ASEAN no influence and would damage its standing. It’s not a civil war, it’s a national uprising against a hated military. via
@NikkeiAsia
Completely agree. The UN’s failure to call out the Myanmar military for this attack is baffling and concerning. Is the UN waiting for confirmation of who initiated the attack? If so, then this statement needs to be followed up by another, stronger statement.
Kalay PDF attacks fascist convoy reported carrying weapons delivered from India near the town of Tamu.
#India
has finally shown their true colors.
#MyanmarRevolution
This has been said already by
@poppymcp
, but one of the consequences of the last few weeks has been to show the world the immensely wide range of cultural practices and expressions of local identity across Myanmar. It's something that makes me deeply, intensely miss living there
I’m glad to see others echoing my point that the Myanmar junta is Southeast Asia’s worst regime since the Khmer Rouge. Foreign governments should understand that there is no hope for a peaceful, stable, functioning Myanmar until the military is forced out of power.
All international and domestic actors must join together to eradicate the region’s worst regime since the Khmer Rouge terrorised Cambodia. Practical global action is needed for democracy, justice, freedom and liberty in
#Myanmar
.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
China continues to violently intercept Philippine vessels in waters that indisputably are within the Philippines’ EEZ, and Manila’s ASEAN partners remain silent. Not surprising but a reminder of the bloc’s extreme caution and significant limitations.
China doesn’t necessarily care about a “successful“ or even peaceful Myanmar. It prefers a weak country that enjoys sufficient stability to allow Chinese projects to proceed, while enabling Beijing to continue to exert influence over key armed groups.
A week after meeting in Panghsang, China's special envoy to
#Myanmar
, Deng Xijun, met with reps from the UWSA, TNLA, KIA, NDAA, SSPP, & AA in Kunming. With key BRI projects stalled, China's increasing pressure on them for a ceasefire with the SAC.
A humanitarian aid mission might be useful if its presence deters junta violence, but key that ASEAN first consult with and get the national unity govt’s blessing (even informally), and that the mission avoid being trapped into legitimizing or suggesting acceptance of the SAC.
As ASEAN considers a humanitarian aid mission to Myanmar, the new anti-junta national unity government urges ASEAN to deal with them, not the “murderer-in-chief” and coup leader Snr General Min Aung Hlaing.
#WhatIsHappeningInMyanmar
A powerful message from
@ZinMarAungNUG
. I hope influential voices in the int’l community will watch this video and recognize it’s past time to do more to help.
“What is happening now is a fight for the heart of the Bamar majority, between the Tatmadaw on one hand and the NLD led by Daw Aung San Sun Kyi . . .” With respect, that is not what is happening. It is a hated military vs a population that wants its freedom and opportunity back.
On Myanmar, Singapore FM Balakrishnan says “I am afraid it is time for ASEAN to make some difficult decisions. So let us see what happens over the next two weeks.” Most bet not much will ensue, but let’s see.
If only the Russians attended (and even if one or two others snuck in), the fact that so many other governments chose not to attend sends a very strong signal of illegitimacy and rejection to the coup regime.
Russian delegation watching
#Myanmar
army chief speak this morning. The only foreign delegation I could spot. Many embassies declined to send diplomats to the parade, given the mounting bloodshed.
Interesting that many in Southeast Asia refer to their countries as “small” because they are next to India and China, even though Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines (not to mention Indonesia) would be demographic giants in Europe and some other regions.
Vietnam's population has officially hit 100 million this month. It is now among the world's 15 most populous nations and third in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and the Philippines.
It is an interesting idea. Tommy Koh asked if the world would accept elections w/o ASSK participation. Even more important is that Myanmar public wouldn’t accept them. Plus, they already had credible elections.
This is interesting. The idea of a special envoy for
#Myanmar
is a good one & would be a practical step in the right direction. It could generate some tough talks from a trusted member state within ASEAN, which is the right way to put diplomatic pressure on the Tatmadaw.
This
@CrisisGroup
analysis of the situation in Myanmar and prospects going forward is superb. This is likely to be a long, difficult struggle. It’s critical that outside actors do nothing to legitimize or accept the junta.
"Getting the regime to change course will be an uphill struggle. Still, foreign actors should not recognise the junta; they should impose arms embargoes and targeted sanctions on the military and its interests" via
@crisisgroup
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
ASEAN’s statement on Myanmar is pretty meh. The troika route isn’t going to produce any better results. It’s not all ASEAN’s fault — the Myanmar crisis is not conducive to the usual diplomatic approaches. What’s needed is more pressure on the junta, not more visits.
“There is no room for inaction or neutrality between the generals and the widespread movement opposin their rule.“ Former Thai FM Kasit is absolutely right.
So many people in Myanmar, like U Win Htein, have spent a big part of their adult lives in prison because they demanded civilian rule and liberty. Their courage and commitment is remarkable.
The junta only released few non-threatening political prisoners.Most released are just criminals, thugs, rapists and murderers to create more chaos. People like U Win Htein, who's probably the most outspoken & oldest (80) is still locked up in cell despite his ill health.
If they have not already done so, UN member nations should push for an open discussion in NY on the decision by UN agencies to work with and through the Myanmar junta. If the UN has a good argument to justify this approach, it needs to make it openly and respond to questions.
I’m no military expert, but the countries continuing to base their policies on the belief the junta can hold power and effectively govern should be asking themselves if this looks good for a military that tried to seize power nearly 3 years ago.
Quick glimpse of major towns and cities fully or partially reclaimed by
#Myanmar
's revolutionary forces (EAOs, PDFs & joint battalions) from the coup regime since
#Operation1027
began on 27 Oct. Map doesn't show junta bases that have been taken over.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
I welcome the Myanmar junta’s release of some who were unjustly imprisoned, but the world needs to understand that nothing fundamentally has changed. This is a tactical move by the junta, which continues to detain thousands and slaughter innocent people daily.
I’m not an expert on this, but I know that the KWO is a deeply respected and serious organization. UN agencies continue to alienate a lot of people in Myanmar. I hope UN leadership is doing a careful review of all operations and policies there.
📃 Open letter to
@UNOCHA
regarding its failure to recognize community-run GBV programming in Kawthoolei.
KWO is writing to convey our strongest objections to the grossly misleading content of the Protection section of OCHA’s Myanmar Humanitarian Update no. 22.
Stunning (in a bad way) that the UN estaimtes 2.5 million Myanmar people are now displaced. Such terrible suffering, and yet the world continues largely to ignore what’s happening there.
UN reporting that half a million people inside Myanmar have now been displaced since conflict intensified in late Oct, bringing total number of displaced to 2.5 million.
@EvanLaksmana
Evan, the junta needs to feel some pressure or it will ignore ASEAN’s points. One step would be for ASEAN to engage publicly with the NUG. It’s the right thing to do, and it might make the military nervous.
Good to see this. US has met many times with the NUG, now (again) with ethnic groups. Going forward, ideally meetings will include both, whenever possible, as a way of recognizing the importance of all resistance elements working together.
Met with several prominent ethnic group representatives to discuss the crisis in Burma. We stand in solidarity with the growing coalition of religious, ethnic, and civil society leaders seeking an end to the crisis and an inclusive, democratic future for Burma.
Really sad news. Sayadaw Ashin Arriyawuntha Biwunsa consistently spoke out for respect, tolerance and freedom. I will remember him for his courage and sense of humor. I always left my visits with him feeling better about the world.
This NUG statement makes sense as a means to encourage Beijing to recognize that there is a good alternative to supporting the junta. In my view, the statement should not cause concern in Washington.
This piece by
@ZachAbuza
is definitely worth reading. It still amazes me that the world is largely standing by as an entire population is fighting for freedom and democracy against a brutal military that has kept the country down for decades.
I wonder if some sympathetic government(s) might pull together a small group of experts to develop options — mindful of concerns re supplying MANPADs — to help the resistance counter/mitigate the junta’s air power.
Agree with
@lvandenassum
. The Myanmar junta is waging a brutal war against the Myanmar people. It has single-handedly created this humanitarian crisis and proven time and again that it will use every possible tool — including aid — as a weapon.
A tragedy for Myanmar’s people.
Today’s ASEAN meeting on humanitarian assistance for Myanmar’s people achieved little. Outcome plays into hands of military regime which often uses blocking communities’ access to emergency relief as coercive instrument. 1/2
Any of the three - Minister Luhut, FM Retno, former FM Hassan — would make great envoys, in theory.The problem isn’t the envoy. It’s the idea that anyone will be able to persuade the generals to stop killing people and open a genuine dialogue. Better to spend time with the NUG
Bloomberg reports general-turned-minister Luhut Panjaitan considered for ASEAN envoy on Myanmar
Many assumed it would be FM Retno Marsudi, other reports said former FM Hassan Wirajuda
More than a month into Indonesia’s highly anticipated chair & they haven’t even named an envoy
The situation in Myanmar continues to spiral down. It is an ongoing tragedy, the blame for which lies squarely with a brutal and power-obsessed military that for decades has separated itself from the rest of society.
Another good article by
@YeMyoHein5
on unwise and unhelpful int’l engagement w/the Myanmar junta. I appreciate that he notes my similar argument in my book, “Imperfect Partners.”
The idea of deferring to ASEAN on Myanmar is based on ASEAN centrality and the assumption that ASEAN states understand Myanmar. The reality, to be blunt, is that other ASEAN governments don’t understand Myanmar any better than anyone else. Proximity does not equal understanding.
One other factor that suggests a comparison to a foreign occupying force is the Tatmadaw’s insularity from Myanmar society, especially at senior levels.
Some are talking about the situation in Myanmar as civil war, a failed state, or a mass uprising. There are elements of all of those. Another comparison is to a foreign occupying army — zero legitimacy/support, beyond brutal, and willing to destroy everything for power.
Exactly. The only hope I see is to put maximum pressure on the junta so it is forced to seek a way out. No way anyone’s going to persuade these guys to be reasonable. The worst regime in Southeast Asia since the Khmer Rouge.
Some in the international community seem to believe that they can convince Myanmar's brutal military to end its rule. The execution case clearly shows the Myanmar Sit-Tat won't listen to others, but only run by their own logic. They are turning the country into "Murder Republic."
Former FM
@saifuddinabd
has been a consistent and strong voice in support of the Myanmar people’s quest to achieve civilian democratic rule. Here he again calls on ASEAN to engage the NUG and NUCC. I hope others in ASEAN heed his sound advice.
Thai Colonel Prasan Henprasert outlining plans to shelter refugees from
#Myanmar
, as violence against protesters escalate and hundreds flee to border areas. He spoke to
@panuw
and I earlier today at the 3rd Army border base.
#WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar
@MurrayHiebert1
She’s in an impossible situation, but I don’t see any value in going to NPT to meet the generals. I mean how many senior UN and foreign officials need to be rudely rebuffed by the junta before the world stops trying to ”persuade” the generals to be reasonable?
I expect this from Beijing, which cares not at all what the Myanmar people want and assumes any future government will have to work with China. It seems short-sighted on the part of India, which might pay a higher price for its support for the junta.
It seems everybody is in Naypyitaw this week to advance their respective interests. 🇨🇳 has normalized regular meetings w/
#Myanmar
's junta & ethnic armed groups, while Indian Amb. Vinay Kumar met junta rep. Than Swe to discuss 🇮🇳's Kaladan transit project:
Excellent piece in
@Myanmar_Now_Eng
. I recently wrote about exactly this — the need to start thinking now about what comes after the junta. Many in Myanmar already are doing so. Sympathetic governments need to do the same.
Commentary | Myanmar’s military dictatorship won’t be around forever
It’s time to start thinking beyond the country’s nightmarish era of military rule and begin planning for a better future
Read more -
This all makes a lot of sense in theory, but what has the Myanmar military done since the coup — or indeed for decades — to give anyone reason to hope that it will agree to end violence or make political concessions? I don’t get this thinking.
As a former diplomat, I‘ve always puzzled over the tendency in the diplomatic world to refuse to name an offending country or organization while making it 100% clear to whom you are referring. It serves no purpose other than to make one look feckless.
Not naming
#Myanmar
#military
,
#Cambodia
@ASEAN
chair calls "in particular 1 with significant power on the ground" to end violence. It "observe(s) with alarm the latest intensified fighting" that's worsened humanitarian crisis & goes against 5-point plan
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
I don’t know if resistance forces truly control 60% of the country, but I am confident that this resistance effort offers the best hope for Myanmar finally to push the hated/brutal/incompetent military out of political power and create conditions for real progress.
[NUG President] "said resistance forces are in control of about 60% of the country’s territory and poised to threaten the ruling junta in key strongholds...
We are now in a position to even threaten Naypyidaw.”
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Women, children, and elderly people reportedly among the dead in the latest atrocity inflicted by
#Myanmar
’s junta, an army trying to impose its rule on a country that does not want it.
@Kim_Jolliffe
@TheEconomist
Thanks
@Kim_Jolliffe
for this excellent thread. If anything, I think too many people outside Myanmar have assumed the junta will inevitably prevail. Along with a lack of understanding of Myanmar, this assumption has led to some poor policy choices by some governments.
The junta’s reported reduction of Aung San Suu Kyi‘s sentence is not an “opening” but a transparent tactical ploy. If it wants to signal an “opening,” how about ending its daily horrific violence against civilians and releasing the thousands it has unjustly detained.
I’ll rush to read this book. Sean not only suffered from a difficult and totallly unjustified imprisonment, but he also knows more about the Myanmar economy (and the generals’ role in it) than almost anyone.
Important clarification that Malaysia has not recognized the junta. As ASEAN prepares for an emergency summit, it is critical that it does nothing to confer legitimacy on or acceptance of the coup regime. ”First do no harm” applies to diplomacy too.
Malaysia says its ambassador to Myanmar met with the country’s energy ministry to convey Petronas’ decision to suspend operations of its Myanmar unit.
The foreign ministry denies that the visit was a recognition of Myanmar’s military govt, repeats calls for end to violence.
This photo from social media (Mandalay Strike Force & Mandalay District PDF, April 14/23) can serve as a reminder to any journalists, INGOs etc. who are still unclear about what to call
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
in 2023: this is a Revolution.
Charles Petrie and I discussed diplomatic options on Myanmar with
@R_Ebbighausen
on his podcast. My main point: There’s no point in engaging diplomatically with the junta until/unless it is so weakened that it is desperately seeking an exit from the crisis it created.
The 42nd
#ASEANSummit
is taking place in Bali. So far, the bloc hasn't found a way to address the crisis in
#Myanmar
.
In the latest episode of Myanmar in a Podshell, we ask two senior diplomats: What to do?
This is the first time I’ve seen it reported publicly that senior U.S. and Chinese officials discussed Myanmar. They probably have discussed before, but perhaps didn’t announce it.
The SAC is Southeast Asia’s worst regime since the Khmer Rouge, yet the UNSYG has completely failed to offer any moral leadership. He might not have known about this latest fiasco but there’s no excuse for the UN’s continuing equivocation on Myanmar.
Strange call by officials from the United Nations Secretariat. UNGA accredits the NUG's ambassador as Myanmar's permanent representative to the General Assembly, and regularly meets SAC officials. I can imagine no principled or informed objection here.
Good to see a former Indian ambassador to Myanmar call on New Delhi to rethink it’s approach to the country. Betting on the military junta is short-term thinking; betting on the Myanmar people is strategic (and moral).
What Can
#India
Do To Move
#Myanmar
Away From Further Violence?
When a neighbor’s house is burning, inaction is not an option or solution. China is likely to capitalize on the anarchy, so India can hardly sit back and watch.
Written by
@gmukhopadhaya
I don’t know if the resistance can seize and hold Mandalay, but the fact that it’s even being seriously discussed is remarkable and highlights both the strength of the resistance and the weakness of the junta.
Myanmar’s anti-regime forces are being re-deployed to the south, north, and east of Mandalay amid rising expectations of a coming battle with the military aimed at wresting control of the old capital from the ruling junta by the end of the year.
Typical UNSC process. Many if not most outraged by junta’s latest massacre, China/Russia offering bs argument for avoiding action, and low likelihood of any meaningful result. Doesn’t help that Volker refers to the resistance as the “opposition.”
Backgrounder for Friday’s UN Security Council meeting in New York that will discuss Myanmar’s crisis. The discussion has been requested by the UK following the horrific air strikes that reportedly killed 168 civilians.
In any analysis of the NUG, one of the things it should get credit for is “normalizing” the idea that the Rohingya community needs to be part of Myanmar’s future and deserves rights and protection. Much work to do to turn that into a reality, but this language is important..
"NUG & partners have prepared a roadmap for Myanmar’s future. It is based on
#RuleOfLaw
,
#Democracy
, peace,a commitment to an inclusive
#Myanmar
that supports and protects all its peoples including Rohingya. We ask you to support this roadmap in the interest of our entire region"
Just imagine commemorating 75 years of battling for autonomy. I don’t know if Myanmar will be able to find a way forward that ends so many years of conflict and allows all communities to feel respected, but I’m confident it won’t happen as long as the military is running things.
@MayWongCNA
Just in case the UN Special Envoy needed another reason to stop the hopeless effort to talk reason to Min Aung Hlaing, the junta has now made public its version of the conversation the two had. An egregious breach of protocol that show the junta’s total lack of seriousness.
Good that Sullivan talked Myanmar with Wang Yi. I don’t know why the US keeps referring to the ASEAN five-point consensus; it’s long-dead. Key is whether the US can help convince Beijing that the resistance offers a greater chance of restoring stability than the junta.
On Myanmar: “…the efforts to address the worsening crisis there; discussed the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma; welcomed efforts to advance meaningful implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.”