Myanmar’s junta chief ‘says Asean envoy can meet Suu Kyi party members’
- Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing has agreed for Asean special envoy from Cambodia to meet ousted ruling party, says Cambodian official
- Promise is small concession in deadlocked peace process since military seized power a year ago from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government
Myanmar military leader Min Aung Hlaing has agreed to arrange for an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) special envoy from Cambodia to meet members of the ousted ruling party on a future visit, a senior Cambodian official said on Monday.
Min Aung Hlaing did not identify which members of the NLD might be made available, said Kao Kim Hourn, a minister in Hun Sen’s office who was part of the video meeting.
“They have said during the video conferencing between our prime minister and senior General Min Aung Hlaing that they would provide access to some of the NLD figures, but we don’t know those yet,” he said.
Involving all parties to Myanmar’s crisis in dialogue is a key pillar of an Asean peace process adopted by the 10-nation bloc last year. Among the others are ending violence and welcoming a special envoy.
Kao Kim Hourn acknowledged that it was unlikely for the envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to meet on his initial trip with Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the coup and is facing various criminal charges that carry jail terms adding up to nearly 150 years.
“The idea, the goal is to meet with all relevant, important stakeholders. But it may not be on one go, it could be a number of visits,” said Kao Kim Hourn. “So, of course, it would be great to have Madame Suu Kyi included.”
Dozens of NLD party members have been detained since the coup on February 1 last year.
Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson of the NLD’s exiled remaining leadership, said any meetings with the Asean envoy should be agreed on by the party.
Min Aung Hlaing’s pledge was not enough for Cambodia to invite Myanmar to next week’s Asean foreign minister’s retreat.
Cambodia, this year’s Asean chair, last week asked Myanmar to name a non-political representative, continuing the exclusion of junta officials that began at last year’s annual leaders’ summit.