Analysis | Asean faces ‘Catch-22’ by inviting Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar coup leader, to talks

Name: Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government
Uploaded: 2021-04-20T00:44:25.000Z
Duration: 2 min 34 s
Description: Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is under fire for inviting the army chief, but not the parallel National Unity Government, to crisis talks

Experts say the bloc is in a spot: to end the bloodshed, it must speak to the junta. But speaking to the junta risks lending it legitimacy

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Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the mastermind of the coup in Myanmar. Photo: EPA

Bhavan Jaipragas

Published: 8:44am, 20 Apr 2021Updated: 5:53pm, 20 Apr 2021

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is facing a “Catch-22” dilemma ahead of Saturday’s high-level talks on Myanmar’s post-coup crisis, observers say, as the bloc comes in for criticism for inviting the putsch’s architect Min Aung Hlaing to the meeting.

The reproval followed comments on Sunday by a member of the country’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) – which is seeking international recognition as the rightful government of Myanmar – that Asean had not reached out to them.

On social media, anti-coup protesters used the hashtag “AseanrejectSAC” to push the bloc to reconsider army chief Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation – with some commentators saying having him sit on the table alongside the bloc’s other leaders lent legitimacy to his February 1 coup.

Maung Zarni, a London-based Myanmar human rights activist, said Asean’s handling of the matter thus far suggested it would fare poorly as an arbiter of peace between the ousted National League for Democracy and the junta.

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

“It is not just simply morally reprehensible, but it is utterly stupid to say that they want a negotiated settlement and then there is no negotiating partner,” said Maung Zarni, co-founder of the Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia group. “Who is Min Aung Hlaing going to negotiate with? Asean is not a party to the conflict.”

The Asean secretariat on Tuesday confirmed Saturday’s special meeting would take place in the 10-nation body’s headquarters in Jakarta under strict health and security protocols due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Analysis | Asean faces ‘Catch-22’ by inviting Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar coup leader, to talks

Analysis | Asean faces ‘Catch-22’ by inviting Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar coup leader, to talks