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How Indonesia can lead ASEAN in ending the Myanmar crisis
Indonesia needs to indicate its readiness to lead ASEAN to revamp the five-point consensus, making it clearer with specific operationalization to work according to what ASEAN, not the Myanmar junta, wants.
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Protesters show the three-finger salute during a demonstration against the Myanmar military junta's execution of four prisoners, outside the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok on July 26. Myanmar's junta executed four prisoners including a former lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, state media said on July 25, in the country's first use of capital punishment in decades.
(AFP/Manan Vatsyayana)
K
ornelius Purba’s article, “Suspend Myanmar before the ASEAN Regional Forum” on July 29 in The Jakarta Post questioned Indonesia’s muteness over the horrific execution of former-legislator Phyo Zeyar Thaw and three other pro-democracy activists, Kyaw Min Yu, known as “Ko Jimmy”, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, who were jailed by the Myanmar military.
This is indeed a valid question, with a stern rebuke, to Indonesia, due to its awkward calmness and silence while the Myanmar junta has repeatedly violated the five-point consensus (FPC), according to which this barbaric act should be seen as the most unacceptable of all.
Indonesia was at the outset the most progressive actor, immediately reaching out to the junta to question the coup, insisting for the restoration of democracy and pushing for ASEAN to make a move to respond to the crisis.
Recently, the Myanmar junta announced that it is ready to “implement” the FPC this year as it has been hindered due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability last year. This statement is indeed mocking ASEAN, while confirming that FPC implementation has to follow the junta’s rule.
The absence of any decisive act whatsoever from any ASEAN leaders to condemn and call for a special meeting to question the junta has ultimately brought ASEAN to its lowest point. And, this happens just when ASEAN ministers are convening for another regular ministerial meeting.
Is ASEAN beyond repair? As ASEAN’s ability to solve the Myanmar crisis is being posited as the litmus test for its credibility and relevance as a regional organization, for ASEAN to take a real action against the junta is a must.
Nonetheless, the question is always where to start. ASEAN began well by coming up with the FPC, and more importantly, having Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and later on Brunei onboard, to be the critical voices that bang on the door to push for any possible solutions to the crisis. However, such zeal seems to be dissipating as (probably) everyone is busy with other matters, except Malaysia, which still continues to make some noise alone, obviously remaining unheeded by the junta.
