Myanmar is spared the anger of Asean, but not the scrutiny of the United States
The US State Department is taking allegations that Myanmar’s military is torturing captives seriously.
The State Department is “outraged and alarmed” by reports that Myanmar’s military leadership has been using “systematic torture,” and attacks on churches and residences in Chin state have also been mentioned in Washington.
According to the foreign media, military activities have expanded in portions of Myanmar, notably the Chin state.
According to the US, the operation against Chin state has damaged more than 100 homes and churches.
Myanmar has been in upheaval since a coup on February 1st coup that toppled the Aung San Sui Kiy regime. 1,000 citizens have been slain since the coup.
ASEAN will not expel Myanmar
Despite a lack of progress on a peace plan aimed at ending violence in the crisis-hit country, Brunei’s king vowed Southeast Asian countries will not kick Myanmar from Asean.
The King made the statement at the end of the three days of Asean-led negotiations where discussions on COVID-19 recovery were overshadowed by Myanmar’s political turmoil and rising tensions between China and the West.
“Myanmar is an integral part of the ASEAN family, and their membership has not been called into question,” His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah stated at a press conference after the summit ended on Thursday.
“ASEAN will always be there for Myanmar and we have continued to offer help through the implementation of the five-point consensus.”
Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, who led the February coup, was barred from attending the summit due to his failure to implement the “consensus” reached with ASEAN in April. He committed to ending hostilities, starting a dialogue, and facilitating humanitarian aid and mediation efforts by a special Asean envoy.
The bloc had requested that he send a “non-political representative” to the discussions, but the junta stated that they would only accept an invitation to their leader or foreign minister.
ASEAN ANGER
The Asean grouping decided to boycott Myanmar, not allowing its representatives to participate in debates or in the summit.
Cambodia, the incoming chair, warned that Myanmar was on the verge of civil war, stating that its government should form an ad hoc task force to negotiate with warring groups “quietly or through back-door diplomacy.”
“While we all respect the principle of non-interference in member states’ domestic affairs, the situation in Myanmar remains a source of significant worry,” Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told Reuters.