Asean foreign ministers to meet Myanmar military on Tuesday, Singapore confirms
Singapore's top diplomat Vivian Balakrishnan has confirmed that a special meeting of Asean foreign ministers and the Myanmar military will be convened on Tuesday to discuss the political crisis in the Southeast Asian nation.
While countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations operate on the principles of consensus and non-interference, Balakrishnan on Monday said the 10-member bloc could still play a "constructive role in facilitating, hopefully, a return to normalcy and stability in Myanmar".
"We believe in engagement and dialogue in good faith with all relevant stakeholders. A special Asean foreign ministers' meeting will be convened by video conference tomorrow and where we will listen to the representatives of the Myanmar military authorities," Balakrishnan told lawmakers in the island nation's parliament as part of the debate on the foreign ministry's upcoming budget.
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He also called on parties in Myanmar to engage in discussions to achieve national reconciliation and to "get back to the path of democratic transition". But this, Balakrishnan said, could only begin if political detainees including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were "immediately released".
Balakrishnan on Monday said he was "appalled" by the violence, reiterating earlier comments that the use of lethal weapons against unarmed civilians was "inexcusable in all circumstances".
"We call on the Myanmar military authorities to exercise the utmost restraint, to desist from the use of lethal force, and to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation in order to prevent further bloodshed, violence and death," he added. "Prolonged instability in Myanmar will have serious consequences for Myanmar, for Asean and across our region."
Singapore, the top source of foreign direct investment in Myanmar, has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks over its links to the junta.
Anti-coup protesters last month gathered outside the island nation's embassy in Yangon to demand that it "be a good neighbour" and compel army chief Min Aung Hlaing to end the crackdown on demonstrators. They have also called for a boycott of Singapore businesses such as restaurant chains Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Crystal Jade Kitchen.
Riot police stand guard during a protest in Yangon against the military coup. Photo: EPA alt=Riot police stand guard during a protest in Yangon against the military coup. Photo: EPA
Meanwhile, Malaysia on Monday said Asean must play a more proactive role in bringing normalcy back to Myanmar.
In a statement, foreign minister Hishammuddin Hussein said all parties "must exercise utmost restraint from the use of violence", and that Malaysia supported the convening of an informal Asesan ministers' meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar.
"When the chips are down on either side, fortunately at different times, we stepped up and helped. And that's how you build trust," Balakrishnan said. "Given our deep friendship, our investments with both the US and China, it is inevitable that we will feel that type of great power competition from time to time. We must expect this. We must not be upset or panic whenever we feel these tugs.
"In fact, I would say this is a design feature of the way we engage the two superpowers. It is normal for two superpowers to try to influence others into their way of thinking, particularly if we are considered to be important accounts worth pushing and pulling."
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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