The word “endgame” was repeated countless times as Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (main image, left) stood alongside Noeleen Heyzer, fielding questions from the press at the Parliament Building in Kuala Lumpur.
Saifuddin, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister, had earlier discussed the grave situation in Myanmar with Heyzer, who is the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar.
Myanmar’s junta grabbed headlines yet again, after it executed four people on Monday. They included Phyo Zeya Thaw, a rapper, a former lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, and political activist Kyaw Min Yu.
Phyo and Kyaw were accused of conspiring to commit “terror acts” and were sentenced to death earlier this year.
Saifuddin, in condemning the execution, said the Malaysian government had decided that no representative from Myanmar’s current administration would be invited to any of its ministerial meetings.
“This is the position of the Cabinet last Friday. This is to show that we are very serious on the issue of political representation,” added Saifuddin.
Saifuddin also pointed out that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (Asean) five-point consensus, drawn up two months after the Myanmar military’s coup in February last year, had not made any “real progress”.
He added Malaysia is supportive of the ideas expressed by Noeleen, that the regional body should adopt a proper framework to implement the consensus.
“Malaysia will present some ideas of the framework at the upcoming Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Aug 3 in Phnom Penh.
“The key idea of the framework is that there must be an endgame. What is the endgame of the five-point consensus?”
Saifuddin said the five-point consensus did not outline clear milestones.
“Who do we engage? What is the endgame? We can go on and on about the five-point consensus, but how do we get it implemented?”
Saifuddin repeated his call that Asean should also engage with Myanmar’s National Unity Government and the National Unity Consultative Council.
“We need to expedite the meeting and we should inform the public, as and when, we have that meeting.
“I use the term ‘endgame’ … we all understand it has to be Myanmar-led, Myanmar-owned. We are acting as facilitators from the outside. The endgame the people of Myanmar want is an inclusive, fair, and harmonious democracy. They want an election that is accepted by all – not the unilateral announcement of an election.
“I’m just expressing some of the concerns that people have been sharing.”
He added that the grouping’s foreign ministers could, at the very least, see what can be done to move the initiative forward.
“I was just outlining very briefly what we think the next step should be. Of course, to see how this can be implemented, there are ways and means to do it. It is premature to say it out in the open, but at least there’s a plan.
“Others have proposed sanctions. We, at Asean, need to see what we, in the region, need to do, and what the international community can do. This is a complex issue, there are no shortcuts. Instead, there needs to be a clear framework, and there must be an endgame.”
Saifuddin said the problem was the fresh executions, adding that they should not happen anymore, as they could stall any possible talks.
“We condemn the actions by the junta (the executions). This is a crime against humanity. The foreign ministers, when we meet on Aug 3, will look into this.”
He added that it seemed as though the junta, by carrying out the executions, was making a mockery of the five-point consensus.
“We have to look into this seriously.
“The actual work on the five-point consensus must go on and must be strengthened to ensure there is an endgame, moving forward.”
Saifuddin also said humanitarian aid must be quickly delivered. With the monsoon season approaching, things will become worse for the people of Myanmar, who are largely living in poverty.
Heyzer added that the situation in Myanmar was a blatant violation of human rights.
“My discussion (with Saifuddin) touched on the setback presented by this execution, on Asean’s efforts, and the five-point consensus,” she said.
“Moving forward, I stressed on the urgency for inclusive engagement in order to work towards the will of the people.”
She also said that the Rohingya issue will be placed high on the agenda ahead of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting next month.
“Right now, 50 per cent of the people in Myanmar are living in poverty. The exit strategy should be a Myanmar ruled by its people, but how do we do that?
“What is it that the people want? Effective governance. The young want a new future, and that is something we all need.”
Heyzer stressed that this was not the responsibility of Asean alone, but also neighbours who share long borders with Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the United States has urged China to do more in addressing the Myanmar issue. Both China and Myanmar share a 2,000km border.
Despite the international outcry, Beijing continues to keep mum over Myanmar, saying that it does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs.