Myanmar coup: new unity government says Asean must not recognise military junta

Name: Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government
Uploaded: 2021-04-18T10:00:20.000Z
Duration: 2 min 34 s
Description: Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government

The National Unity Government (NUG), set up by pro-democracy politicians last week, said it must be part of negotiations to resolve the crisis following the coup

Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Asean summit in Indonesia on April 24

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Anti-government protesters in Yangon hold placards to show their support for the new National Unity Government found by ousted NLD legislators. Photo: Reuters

Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 18 Apr 2021Updated: 12:42pm, 19 Apr 2021

Myanmar’s neighbours have to negotiate with a newly formed government of national unity if they want to help resolve the turmoil triggered by a February 1 military coup, a representative said on Sunday.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) has been trying to find a way out of the bloody crisis that has racked member Myanmar since the military ousted an elected government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military has shown little willingness to engage with its neighbours and no sign of wanting to talk with the government it ousted.

But in the first hint of progress for the grouping, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Asean summit in Indonesia on April 24, a Thai government official said on Saturday.

02:34

Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government

It will be the military chief’s first known trip and meeting with foreign leaders since he seized power. The junta has not commented on the Asean meeting.