Malaysia asks Asean to reach out to Myanmar junta’s rivals as patience wears thin over peace plan
- Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the bloc is also considering seeking support from third-party states to help with the Asean-led peace process
- Asean countries are frustrated with the Myanmar military over its failure to implement a plan that includes cessation of hostilities
Wang Yi’s Myanmar trip could derail Asean’s peace plan by ‘emboldening’ junta
Asean countries, which have a code of non-interference in each member state’s affairs, are losing patience with the junta over its failure to follow a plan that includes multiparty dialogue, humanitarian aid access and a cessation of hostilities.
“Now it is one-sided, we are only engaging the junta,” he told reporters.
Myanmar’s military has repeatedly urged Asean members not to contact groups it calls “terrorists”.
Saifuddin said the bloc’s foreign ministers discussed last week the possibility of seeking support from third-party states to help with the Asean-led peace process, which is the only diplomatic process in play.
“Some of us brought it to the table that if Asean cannot do it alone then we will probably have to engage some of our Asean dialogue partners,” he said, without naming any countries.