The general, who was widely accused of genocidal crimes against the Rohingya Muslims, has barely heeded the world’s anger; he even challenged the international community to slap their economic sanctions on Myanmar because he knew China would be ready to help the junta. The recent burning of Chinese factories in Myanmar, however, has apparently changed China’s approach.

With the summit agenda set, the question is: Who should represent Myanmar? Jokowi should ensure a representative of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) as the winner of the November 2020 election is invited to the summit. If necessary, a representative of the junta is allowed to take part.

Jokowi’s initiative is the first major diplomatic measure taken to find a solution to the Myanmar crisis; therefore, we hope he will not be trapped in any legal technicalities that could derail the move.

Previously, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi used shuttle diplomacy to secure an informal meeting with the junta’s foreign minister in Bangkok.

Sources at the State Palace said Jokowi was now trying to convince Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as the rotating ASEAN chair to organize an “emergency” summit as soon as possible, which, if necessary, will include several members such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. If that happens, the four countries will have to report the results of the meeting when ASEAN leaders regroup in April or May.

There is a precedent in which several ASEAN member states held talks to address emergency matters. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin expressed his full support of Jokowi’s initiative on Friday, which confirmed Kuala Lumpur’s faith in Jakarta’s goodwill when the two leaders met in the Indonesian capital early last month.

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan is scheduled to meet with Jokowi on Wednesday. The way toward an emergency summit is getting closer.

The world has seen Gen. Aung Hlaing’s brutal actions against a democratically elected government and people who refuse to give up their constitutional rights to the junta. The military and police have killed hundreds of protesters, while Myanmar’s de facto leader Suu Kyi is being detained and facing “fabricated” charges of corruption and abuse of power.

It is for the future of Myanmar and ASEAN as a community that President Jokowi should move ahead with his mission to restore civil rights in Myanmar. What is happening in Myanmar, not to mention its repercussions, can no longer be considered the domestic affair of Myanmar and, therefore, other ASEAN members have to help the country restore peace.

ASEAN cannot just stay silent when violence continues unchecked in Myanmar and sooner or later puts regional stability and peace at risk. Perhaps ASEAN lacks decisive mechanisms to deal with the Myanmar conundrum, but at this critical juncture, the group must act against the power-hunger junta.

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