Asean special envoy to make first Myanmar trip to address crisis, days after UN report on junta abuses
- The visit by Prak Sokhonn – foreign minister of Cambodia and this year’s Asean chair – aims to create ‘a favourable condition leading to the end of violence’
- Meeting comes less than a week after the release of a United Nations report that said Myanmar’s military was responsible for systematic abuses
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn will make his first visit as Asean special envoy to Myanmar from Monday, as the 10-nation group tries to address the crisis in the military-controlled Southeast Asian country.
The three-day trip will lay the groundwork for a peace process that its ruling junta has been accused of delaying while it tries to consolidate power and crush its opposition.
Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia’s foreign minister and envoy for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), wants to hold Myanmar’s military boss Min Aung Hlaing to his commitment to end hostilities in the wake of a coup he led last year.
Asean has barred Myanmar’s generals from regional summits since late last year and several member states insist they must remain sidelined until progress is made, including granting the envoy access to all parties.
“It will be the special envoy’s first visit to Myanmar aimed at creating a favourable condition leading to the end of violence as well as the utmost restraint by all parties,” Cambodia foreign ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry said.
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He said it was not the right time to say who Prak Sokhonn would meet on the March 21-23 trip, which aims to encourage political dialogue and consultation.