Myanmar to Attend ASEAN Summit After Three-Year Absence

Myanmar’s military junta had been barred from attending ASEAN summits since their coup in February 2021, with the bloc refusing to allow its leaders to participate.

Staff Reporter

Oct 9, 2024, 08:18 AM2 min read

Myanmar to Attend ASEAN Summit After Three-Year Absence

Ministers and officials participate in a group photo during the 57th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane on October 8, 2024. Photo: AFP

For the first time in three years, Myanmar will send a representative to a regional summit, a diplomatic source revealed on Tuesday. The country, embroiled in a civil war, has been absent from high-level discussions since its 2021 coup. This week’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos will put the ongoing conflict in Myanmar high on the agenda, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have largely stalled.

Myanmar’s military junta had been barred from attending ASEAN summits since their coup in February 2021, with the bloc refusing to allow its leaders to participate. However, a senior official from Myanmar's foreign ministry will represent the country at this week’s meeting. This move comes amid the junta's continued struggle to quell opposition from ethnic minority groups and pro-democracy forces.

ASEAN had previously urged Myanmar to abide by a "five-point consensus" aimed at restoring peace. Though the junta initially agreed to the plan, they have since ignored it, continuing their brutal crackdown on dissent. The diplomatic source highlighted that Myanmar’s decision to send a representative could signal their willingness to engage, albeit cautiously, with the regional consensus.

The Myanmar conflict has been a major issue for ASEAN, with member states divided over how to address it. Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines have pushed for tougher measures against the junta, while Thailand, which has hosted thousands of refugees from Myanmar, has advocated for more pragmatic engagement.

This development follows the military junta's unexpected invitation to its opponents for peace talks just weeks ago, as they face mounting battlefield losses. Discussions at the summit are expected to focus not only on Myanmar but also on the South China Sea dispute and other regional security issues.

The summit will also be attended by leaders from China, Japan, India, and other key nations, further underscoring the global significance of ASEAN's efforts to mediate the Myanmar crisis.

BOB Post