It has been 19 months since the military staged a coup d’état in Myanmar, taking over the reins in Naypyidaw from the democratically elected government.
In that time, several member states from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the world community have been demanding for firm action be taken against the junta. Yet, they remain mere rhetoric.
Asean has been rather tame in its approach, with only Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, often demanding for peace and democracy to be restored in Myanmar. However, collectively, little progress has been made, with Asean’s five-point consensus being labelled as a “joke”.
Yesterday, Malaysia once again, reiterated its stand for an “endgame” in Myanmar.
Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who hosted a meeting on Myanmar at the Malaysian Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) in New York, called for a fair and inclusive consultation with all stakeholders in the troubled Asean country.
“There should be a framework with a clear endgame, which includes a return to democracy in Myanmar,” Saifuddin said.
Parliamentarians from Europe, Asia, and members of the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar had also urged the global community to take stronger action to deal with the crisis. Others who joined the session included the Vice-President of the European Parliament and Chair of the International Parliamentary Inquiry into the global response to the crisis in Myanmar, Heidi Hautala, and Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights chairman, Charles Santiago.
Saifuddin remains the sole Asean minister who has publicly met with NUG members.
NUG Minister of Communications, Information and Technology, as well as its spokesperson, U Htin Linn Aung, said the people of Myanmar deserve to have their true representatives at the table where regional decisions are being made.
This comes as the UN Security Council is considering a resolution that would demand an end to all violence in Myanmar. The resolution would also urge an immediate end to the transfer of arms to Myanmar, and to impose UN sanctions.
However, Russia and China seem to favour Myanmar’s military rule and may use their veto power against the resolution.
“Nineteen months after the coup, the international allies of the junta have shown a commitment to supporting (General) Min Aung Hlaing, which surpasses that of those countries claiming to support the pro-democracy movement,” said Santiago, who is also the Klang MP.
“Simply put, the latter are not doing enough to help the Myanmar people, as countries like Russia or China, actively support the military, engage the junta, and give it the recognition it so keenly craves.
“It is high time for those governments that claim to support democracy in Myanmar to act forcefully,” he added.
Justice for Myanmar, in a report made public last month, identified 116 Singapore companies that brokered the supply of weapons and other equipment to the Myanmar military, including since the coup d’état last year.
Hautala meanwhile, said that the coup had triggered a humanitarian crisis of an enormous scale.
“What international actors do, or fail to do, may tip the scale in favour of military dictatorship, or democracy,” Hautala added.
“We urge the global community to scale up humanitarian aid, to increase the pressure on the junta through improved coordination on sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
“We further urge international actors to fully acknowledge the NUG for what it is, the legitimate government of Myanmar, and support it accordingly with funding, capacity building initiatives, and diplomatic recognition.”
