Southeast Asian leaders on Saturday, after the leaders’ meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said they had agreed on a plan with Myanmar’s junta chief to end the crisis in the violence-hit nation.
ASEAN leaders wanted a commitment from Min Aung Hlaing to restrain his security forces, who have reportedly killed 745 people since a mass civil disobedience movement erupted to challenge his Feb. 1 coup.
According to a statement from group chair Brunei, a consensus was reached on five points – ending violence, a constructive dialogue among all parties, a special ASEAN envoy to facilitate the dialogue, acceptance of aid and a visit by the envoy to Myanmar.
There was no mention of releasing political prisoners in the statement.
However, head of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights group Charles Santiago, said the release of political prisoners is a necessary requirement for the cessation of violence.
He added that ASEAN must now act swiftly and set a clear timeline for Min Aung Hlaing to deliver on ending the violence, or stand ready to hold him accountable.
The ASEAN gathering was the first coordinated international effort to ease the crisis in Myanmar, an impoverished country that neighbours China, India and Thailand, since the coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government.
Myanmar is part of the 10-nation ASEAN, which has a policy of consensus decision-making and non-interference in the affairs of its members.
Analysts say the process had a long way to go, because promising to cease violence and release political prisoners is one thing but to actually get it done is another.
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