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Asean envoy must recognise us over junta, Myanmar’s parallel civilian government says
- Leaders of the Southeast Asian bloc are meeting on Saturday and are tipped to appoint a special envoy – possibly from Singapore, Thailand or Indonesia – to mediate the post-coup crisis
- The newly formed National Unity Government has warned against recognising the ‘wrong institution’, while expert warns no-shows by Thai and Philippine leaders could make the talks ‘embarrassing’
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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must ensure that any plan to appoint a special envoy to mediate in Myanmar’s post-coup crisis does not lead to recognition of the junta as a legitimate authority, an official from the country’s parallel civilian government and regional rights advocates said on Thursday.
Speaking in a virtual press conference, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe of the newly formed National Unity Government (NUG) said it was important that the 10-nation bloc acted based on the will of Myanmar’s citizens – an overwhelming majority of whom backed the civilian administration.
She was speaking ahead of Saturday’s long-awaited meeting of Asean leaders to discuss the crisis.
Like other anti-junta figures, Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, the NUG’s Minister for Women, Youth and Children’s Affairs, urged Asean and other international players to recognise the parallel civilian government over the ruling junta.
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Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government
Anti-coup protesters turn out in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government
The army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s February 1 coup ended the country’s five-year experiment with democratic rule, with the popularly elected National League of Democracy (NLD) government deposed and its key leaders such as Aung San Suu Kyi put in detention.
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