Irrawaddy-Apr 10
Putschist turned president Min Aung Hlaing pledged to normalize Myanmar-ASEAN relations in his first speech after being sworn in on Friday, despite being barred from the regional bloc’s summits for the past five years. ASEAN banished Myanmar generals from its high level meetings in October 2021, citing the regime’s failure to implement the Five Point Consensus agreed earlier that year to halt violence, begin dialogue, and allow humanitarian access. Since then, Myanmar has been represented only by “non political” figures, a restriction reaffirmed repeatedly by the bloc. ASEAN as a bloc has yet to recognize Min Aung Hlaing’s new administration following the junta run election that installed him as president. The grouping remains divided: Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines appear to favor engagement, while Manila, as current ASEAN chair, insists Myanmar must first implement the Five Point Consensus. In January, while the regime staged a phased election widely condemned as fraudulent, Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro—in her capacity as ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar—visited Naypyitaw for talks with Min Aung Hlaing. The timing drew criticism, though Lazaro insisted the meeting focused on the consensus. Earlier this month, following Min Aung Hlaing’s installation as president, Manila renewed its call for the agreement to be “fully and effectively” implemented, with government spokeswoman Claire Castro calling for “an end to violence and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.” Lazaro later told the BBC that Min Aung Hlaing would remain barred from ASEAN summits even as president, with only senior civilian officials allowed to represent Myanmar at the regional level. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/politics/min-aung-hlaing-vows-to-normalize-myanmar-asean-ties-despite-genocide-charges.html
